Reserpine enhances amphetamine stereotypies without increasing amphetamine-induced changes in striatal dialysate dopamine

Indirect evidence suggests that amphetamine (AMPH) releases dopamine (DA) from an extravesicular, cytoplasmic pool. Disruption of vesicular DA storage by reserpine has been hypothesized to increase the concentration of extravesicular DA available for release by AMPH, which is consistent with the observation that reserpine does not prevent but augments the behavioral response to AMPH. In order to more directly test this hypothesis, the in vivo microdialysis technique was used to concurrently examine the behavioral and striatal dopaminergic response to AMPH (1.25 or 2.5 mg/kg) 24 h following reserpine pretreatment (2.5 mg/kg). Reserpine decreased tissue levels of DA by approximately 90% and reduced baseline dialysate DA concentrations by approximately 80%. Reserpine augmented the behavioural effects of AMPH, particularly increasing the occurrence and intensity of stereotypies. In contrast, reserpine did not alter the amount or duration of AMPH-induced DA release. This observation confirms that DA release by AMPH does not depend on vesicular stores but is inconsistent with the hypothesis that augmentation or behaviour by reserpine results from increased striatal DA release.     

Controlled study of haloperidol, pimozide and placebo for the treatment of Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome

The results of this controlled study of the treatment of 57 patients with Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome suggested that both haloperidol and pimozide were more effective than placebo, but that haloperidol was slightly more effective than pimozide. Adverse effects occurred more frequently with haloperidol vs placebo than with pimozide vs placebo, but the frequency was not significantly different for haloperidol compared with pimozide. Clinically significant cardiac effects did not occur at a maximum dosage of 0.3 mg/kg or 20 mg/d for pimozide and 10 mg/d for haloperidol. However, the QTc interval was prolonged during pimozide treatment compared with that during haloperidol treatment, although the values for both medications were not in an abnormal range.     

Chronic myopathy with a partial deficiency of the carnitine palmityltransferase enzyme

To date, chronic myopathy has not been reported (to our knowledge) to occur in carnitine palmityltransferase (CPT) deficiency, a disorder of muscle lipid metabolism. We describe two patients with CPT deficiency: a mother, who had a partial CPT deficiency associated with fixed proximal weakness but without rhabdomyolysis, and her son, who had a complete CPT deficiency (95% reduction in enzyme activity) and who suffered from classic attacks of exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis but had normal strength on recovery. Careful examination of family members of patients with complete CPT deficiency is suggested in order to identify clinically affected heterozygotes.     

Medullary paracoccidioidomycosis: report of a case

Paracoccidioidomycosis of the central nervous system presents either as meningeal or pseudotumoral lesions. Although occurring more frequently in the brain and meninges, they can occasionally involve the spinal cord. A case of paracoccidioidomycosis in the cervical spinal cord is reported in this paper. Difficulties in establishing the etiologic diagnosis, the importance of radiologic examination of the thorax, and the treatment of the patient are commented. In an extensive review of the literature on the subject, only three other cases have been found, which are also discussed.     

Are ADDH and ADHD the same or different?

To assess the relationship between the DSM-III criteria for attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADDH) and the DSM-III-R criteria for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), children from an inner city parochial school were evaluated using a 30-item teacher questionnaire consisting of the DMS-III and DSM-III-R criteria for these disorders, the revised Conners Parent and Teacher Questionnaires, and a continuous performance test. Diagnostic groups were established based on teacher ratings of the DSM items and evaluated in relation to the rating scale data and continuous performance test. While children who were identified by teachers as having ADDH almost always satisfied the criteria for ADHD, a new group of children who were hyperactive and impulsive but less clearly inattentive also met the criteria for ADHD. Implications of the change in diagnostic criteria are discussed.     

The effect of apomorphine on regional cerebral blood flow in schizophrenia

A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of the effects of apomorphine on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) during a prefrontal cortex activation task was undertaken to explore the role of dopamine on cortical function. The subjects were eight drug-free, chronically psychotic patients; six patients had schizophrenia. In each, apomorphine increased the relative prefrontal flow. The results suggest that enhanced prefrontal dopamine activity may reverse deficits in prefrontal cortex metabolism in schizophrenia.     

Contribution of ambulatory EEG recording (Medilog 9000) in a population of epileptics

Thirty-four epileptic patients, aged 9 to 36, were submitted to A/EEG between May 1987 and July 1988. All patients had a thorough clinical and EEG work-up including long-term conventional EEG, afternoon polygraphic sleep recording and, in some cases, full-night EEG and video monitoring. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group I included 19 patients (18 with symptomatic partial epilepsy (SPE) and 1 with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) in whom no seizure had ever been recorded in spite of EEG recordings averaging a total of 16 hrs 10 min, awake and asleep); group II included 15 subjects (6 with SPE, 5 with IGE, 3 with symptomatic GE and 1 with undetermined epilepsy) in whom one or several seizures had been recorded. A/EEG was performed in order to: 1) obtain better clinical and EEG characterization of seizures, 2) study the circadian distribution of seizures, 3) verify the efficacy of drug treatment and, 4) establish the epileptic or non-epileptic nature of some ictal events. The results of A/EEG were considered positive in 52.63% of group I patients and in 93.33% of group II patients. The authors discuss the specific advantages of A/EEG vs conventional EEG: recording of seizures with random occurrence, of seizures accompanied by falls, checking the remission of seizures.     

Nuclear medicine diagnosis of the thyroid

The progress made in ultrasonography and improved in vitro tests have changed the field of application for scintigraphy of the thyroid. Thyroid scanning itself has been improved by the use of isotopes with better imaging properties and less radiation burden (99mTc, 123I) and by gamma cameras for imaging. Scintigraphy yields real topographic and functional information on the gland, in addition to which ultrasonography gives morphological data only. This holds true especially for autonomous nodular goiter with iodine deficiency. The goal of thyroid imaging is always to match the appropriate diagnostic procedure with all the clinical data available. When optimized techniques (gamma camera, on-line processor) are used thyroid scintigraphy is useful for the diagnosis, adequate therapy and follow-up of various thyroid disorders.     

Results of long-term leukocyte interferon (alpha IFN) therapy using an individually determined dose schedule in recurrent laryngeal papillomatosis

Out of 24 patients with laryngeal papillomatosis 6 (5 female, 1 male) suffered from repeated relapses and underwent long-term treatment with alpha-IFN-therapy. Age at onset of the disease: 1 5/12-16 2/12 years. Duration of illness: 1-7 years, with several relapses were treated surgically and with laser-coagulation. Three out of 6 patients had a tracheal cannula and were cauterized by podophylline at 2-4 week intervals. IFN was given in dosages of 5-20 X 10(4) U/kg 2 or 3 times a week. IFN-dosage for each patient was determined using the induction kinetics of (2'-5')-oligo(A)synthetase (OAS) in the mononuclear cells of the circulating blood of patients with laryngeal papillomatosis. A continuous effect could be achieved by the dose of IFN determined in the described way always before OAS activity decreased to its initial level. All 6 patients responded favorably to the alpha-IFN-therapy. Two patients treated only with IFN showed remission without relapses. In 2 cases IFN was successfully used to prevent relapses after surgical treatment and laser-coagulation. In 2 patients with papillomatosis extending into the main bronchi the disease could only be brought to a standstill, i.e. it was not necessary to remove the papillomas. Two out of 3 patients with laryngeal papillomatosis could be decannulated. Long-term therapy following the above described principles is efficient and without significant side-effects. Three patients are in treatment for more than 3 10/12 years.