L’espace de la santé mentale : un paysage discursif et clinique en remaniement

Objectives

This paper introduces some epistemology about mental health developments and how it leads to reconsider the landscape of clinical practices.

Contribution of genetic factors for melanoma susceptibility in sporadic US melanoma patients

Abstract:  The risks of developing malignant melanoma (MM) include ultraviolet irradiation and genetic factors. To examine the contribution of rare and common variation within known MM genes in sporadic US MM patients, coding regions of known MM susceptibility genes [cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A ( CDKN2A ), cyclin-dependent kinase 4, melanocortin 1 receptor ( MC1R ) and tyrosinase ( TYR )] were resequenced in 109–135 MM cases. The significance of variants was examined by comparing their frequencies in 390 cancer-free controls. Potential deleterious mutations in CDKN2A were found in two patients and two others had variants of unknown significance. Cases were more likely than controls to harbour the MC1R 'R' variants known or predicted to alter its function ( P  = 0.002), particularly the R160W variant ( P  = 0.0035). The associated TYR R402Q variant (rs1126809*A) was found in 29% of cases, similar to what has been described previously. One MM patient with a family history of MM, who had developed other skin cancers, was homozygous for a novel TYR variant (P406L) of unknown significance. Hence, rare variants in TYR may be important risk factors for skin cancer.     

Carbamazepine, diuretics, and hyponatremia: a possible interaction

Although carbamazepine is known to cause hyponatremia, no previous reports have indicated an interaction between carbamazepine and a diuretic. Two patients are described who were treated with this combination and developed symptomatic hyponatremia, which cleared when both drugs were discontinued in one patient and when the diuretic was discontinued in the second patient. The possible mechanisms of action of carbamazepine-induced hyponatremia are discussed.     

XPS analysis of poly[(3-hydroxybutyric acid)-co-(3-hydroxyvaleric acid)] film surfaces exposed to an allylamine low-pressure plasma

Homogeneous and stable layers were deposited through allylamine plasma polymerization (75 W, 100 Pa, 15 min) onto poly[(3-hydroxybutyric acid)-co-(3-hydroxyvaleric acid)] (91 : 9 wt.-%) (P(HB-co-9%HV)) film surfaces, XPS analysis using take-off angles of 20° and 70° and performed 10 days and 20 days after plasma treatment gives information on the composition (in atom%) of the modified surface: C, 62.74; N, 19.60; O, 17.65. The unexpected oxygen percentage is weaker if argon plasma pretreatment (25 W, 40 Pa, 5 min) is applied. Then, a succinct mechanism is proposed. The study of changes in element ratios and binding energy values shows that the majority of incorporated functional groups seem to be amide and imine groups.     

A preliminary study of serotonergic antidepressants in treatment of dysthymia

Rosenthal, Jesse et al. A Preliminary Study of Serotonergic Antidepressants in the Treatment of Dysthymia. Prog. Neuro-Psychopharmacol. & Biol. Psychiat. 1992, 16(6): 933–941.

1. 1. There is increasing evidence that antidepressants may alleviate symptoms of dysthymia, but few prior studies on selective serotonergic agents.

2. 2. Twenty patients meeting criteria for dysthymia, but not meeting criteria for major depression, received open label trials of a serotonergic antidepressant, either fluoxetine or trazodone.

3. 3. Seventeen (85%) completed three-month medication trials, and of these, twelve (70.6% of completers) responded to treatment. Seven (41.2% of completers) were still in remission on followup at five months.

4. 4. Both fluoxetine and trazodone were well tolerated in dysthymics, and showed similar short-term effectiveness in treating dysthymic symptoms.

Tardive dyskinesia in the course of antidepressant therapy: a prevalence study and review of the literature

The authors present a prevalence study of tardive dyskinesia (TD) in the course of antidepressant therapy. Of the 50 patients evaluated, three developed TD. TD developed rapidly and in a short period of time. Withdrawal of antidepressant improved TD in two patients. The literature on TD developing in the course of antidepressant therapy is reviewed, and the different etiological theories are examined.     

Biological effects of cyclosporin A: A new antilymphocytic agent

The fungus metabolite cyclosporin A is a small peptide acting as a novel antilymphocytic agent. It strongly depressed appearance of both direct and indirect plaque-forming cells and produced a clear dose-dependent inhibition of haemagglutinin formation in mice upon oral administration. Skin graft rejection in mice and graft-versus-host disease in mice and rats were considerably delayed by cyclosporin A which also prevented the occurrence of paralysis in rats with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. This compound was not only highly effective in preventing development of Freund's adjuvant arthritis, but in addition improved the symptoms in rats with established arthritis, although it is inactive in acute inflammation. This new agent contrasts with other immunosuppressives and cytostatic drugs in its weak myelotoxicity. Experimental evidence suggests that cyclosporin A, rather than being cytostatic or lympholytic, affects an early stage of mitogenic triggering of the immunocompetent lymphoid cell.