Negative symptoms,defect state and Huber's basic symptoms: A comparison of the concepts

Comparing Crow's schizophrenia model with the defect state and Huber's basic symptoms shows that this model is an oversimplification of the complex reality of schizophrenic outcomes. The concept of negative symptoms is undermined by several factors, such as differing definitions, other confounding cross-sectional variables (e.g., akinesia and depression), short follow-ups and lack of confirmation by factorial analysis. The longitudinal concept of a defect state, which has been used in long-term follow-up studies, includes enduring symptoms currently classified as positive and negative. Huber's conceptualization of basic symptoms describes prodromal and enduring residual symptoms of schizophrenia associated with structural brain abnormalities. The overlap and lack of equivalence of these concepts and the limited empirical evidence does not allow firm conclusions. New longitudinal studies using clinical, psychosocial, and neuropsychological measures are needed to understand the natural history and etiology of the defect state.The authors are affiliated with the Medical College of Pennsylvania/EPPI, Philadelphia, PA. William H. Wilson, M.D., is currently at Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR.     

Effects of laparotomy on systemic macrophage function.

Surgical trauma induces immunosuppression that may adversely influence survival. This study examined the effect of laparotomy on two different macrophage populations, peritoneal macrophages (PM phi) and Kupffer cells. Female, 6- to 8-week old, CFW/C3H-HeN mice (n = 160) were randomly allocated to one of three study groups: control, ether anesthetic only, or ether anesthetic and laparotomy. On postoperative days 1 and 3, PM phis and Kupffer cells were harvested and assayed for superoxide anion production (O2-), percent macrophage phagocytosis of Candida albicans (CAP), percent C. albicans killed by macrophages (CAK), percent major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-class II antigen expression, and antigen presentation. Macrophages isolated on postoperative day 1 were also cocultured with 100 units/10(6) cells/ml interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). Laparotomy significantly impaired microbicidal activity (O2-, percent CAP, and percent CAK) and antigen presentation on postoperative day 1. On postoperative day 3, O2- and antigen presentation were increased significantly (p less than 0.05) over control values, indicating a rebound phenomenon. Kupffer cell microbicidal function was unchanged on postoperative days 1 and 3. The initial immune impairment (PM phis: O2-, CAP, and CAK) was abrogated by IFN-gamma treatment. In immunosuppressed hosts after injury, administration of macrophage-activating factors such as IFN-gamma could be of therapeutic benefit.     

Erythrocyte polyamines of normal individuals and patients with Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA)

Aging of human red cells (RBC) appears to occur as a function of the age of the subject and time which is spent by the erythrocyte in the circulation. In SCA, there is a decrease in the time RBCs circulate. The polyamines, putrescine, spermidine and spermine can alter the electrokinetic properties of red cells. As red cells age, there is a decrease in the surface charge and altered deformability. To assess the effect of time in the circulation on RBC polyamine content of control subjects, we analyzed levels of density fractionated cells of ten healthy donors (HbAA) and compared to levels of four SCA patients (HbSS), ages 26 to 38. Perchloric acid extracts of erythrocyte stroma were analyzed by amino acid analysis using O-phthaldehyde fluorescent detection. At age 50–60 in normal subjects there is an accelerated loss of both spermidine and spermine in the dense cells relative to reticulocytes. This may be related to loss of surface area of the erythrocyte. In the four SCA patients, the spermidine and spermine ratios were similar to that of young normals of the same age group. It is considered that a large fraction of the total polyamines is firmly bound to spectrin. Polyamines may exert a regulatory role in the RBC stroma.     

Assessing impairment in patients with panic disorder: the Sheehan Disability Scale

Summary The DSM-III-R incorporates both distress (symptoms) and disability (impairment) in the definition of a psychiatric disorder. In psychiatric research there is a wide array of instruments used to measure symptom severity, but a limited selection for the assessment of impairment. The psychometric properties of one such instrument, The Sheehan Disability Scale (Sheehan 1983), are evaluated in this paper. The data analyzed come from two studies of patients with panic disorder, the Cross National Collaborative Panic Study-Phase I and the Panic Depression Study. In this report both the alpha coefficients and factor analyses indicate that the reliability of the scale is acceptable. The factor structure of the items and the sensitivity to change of their composite demonstrate satisfactory construct validity. The criterion-related validity is substantiated by the significant relationship between symptomatology and impairment. These analyses were limited to patients with panic disorder. Further work is needed to evaluate the instrument in assessing patients with other disorders.     

A profile of homicides on the streets and in the homes of New York City.

Although prior research has found that homes containing firearms and illicit drug and ethanol users are more likely to be the scene of a homicide than homes that do not contain these elements, the authors studied homicides on the streets as well as in homes so as to assess the role of firearms, cocaine, and ethanol in both settings. Using the files of the Chief Medical Examiner, the authors reviewed all 4,468 homicides occurring in New York City in 1990 and 1991. The most frequent places of occurrence were the streets and other outdoor places (49.6 percent) and the victims'' homes (19.3 percent). Firearms were the cause of death for 49.6 percent of homicides in the home and 80.3 percent of those on the streets. Use of cocaine and ethanol was found more frequently among victims killed on the streets than those killed at home. In addition, victims killed on the streets were more likely to be male, ages 15-24 years, and African American. Further research in regard to prevention and intervention strategies is needed, keeping in mind the different patterns of homicide on the streets compared with those occurring in other settings.