Evaluation of the nocturnal levels of urinary biogenic amines in men exposed overnight to 50-Hz magnetic field.

The aim of this study was to determine whether exposure to magnetic fields might affect human health and to look for possible effects of acute exposure (9 hours) to 50-Hz magnetic fields (10 microT) on the urinary concentration of biogenic amines. Thirty-two young men (20-30 years old) were divided into two groups (sham-exposed and exposed group) of 12 to 16 subjects each. All subjects participated in two 24-hour experiments to evaluate the effects of both continuous and intermittent exposure to magnetic fields.

Long-term pharmacoclinical follow-up in schizophrenic patients treated with risperidone. Plasma and red blood cell concentrations of risperidone and its 9-hydroxymetabolite and their relationship to whole blood serotonin and tryptophan, plasma homovanillic acid, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, dihydroxyphenylethyleneglycol and clinical evaluations.

The aim of the study was to establish a relationship between the clinical efficacy of risperidone (Risp), the biological levels of Risp and its metabolite, 9-hydroxyrisperidone (9-OH-Risp), and the turnover of blood biogenic amines during a long-term treatment (1 year). Risp is one of the newer atypical antipsychotic drugs with potent serotonin (5HT2), moderate D2 and real alpha 1-alpha 2 adrenoreceptor antagonistic effects. The study has been performed in an open setting and included 17 patients, but only 15 were followed-up from 3 to 12 months.

Influence of social isolation and 6-OHDA lesion on the effects of quinelorane.

The sensitivity of the response to the preferential dopaminergic D3 (DAD3) receptor agonist, quinelorane, was compared in mice housed socially and in mice isolated for 4 weeks. Quinelorane (1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 microg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally. Motor activity was measured for 60 min posttreatment.

Weight loss and changes in energy metabolism in massively obese adolescents.

Objective: To investigate the energy metabolism modifications induced by energy restriction and weight loss in massively obese adolescents.

Subjects: Ten massively obese girls (179 +/- 31% of ideal body weight; age, 13.3-16.

Pharmacoclinical strategy in neuroleptic resistant schizophrenic patients treated by clozapine: clinical evolution, concentration of plasma and red blood cell clozapine and desmethylclozapine, whole blood serotonin and tryptophan.

1. The aim of the study was to determine if a more rational therapeutic approach could be devised for neuroleptic resistant psychotic patients treated for months and years with clozapine. Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic medication, but its therapeutic benefit has been limited by a high incidence of agranulocytosis and seizures.

The cortical serotonin2 receptors studied with positron-emission tomography and [18F]-setoperone during depressive illness and antidepressant treatment with clomipramine.

Background: Changes in serotonin (5-HT)2 receptor densities were reported in depression by postmortem studies and following treatment with tricyclic antidepressants in animal studies. Here, 5-HT2 receptors were studied in vivo in depressed patients.

Methods: Cortical 5-HT2 receptors were investigated prospectively using positron-emission tomography and [18F]-setoperone in 7 depressed patients, before and after at least 3 weeks of clomipramine (CMI), 150 mg daily.

Evolution of plasma homovanillic acid (HVA) in chronic schizophrenic patients treated with haloperidol.

In a 4-week study of 14 drug-free schizophrenic patients (according to DSM-III-R), free and conjugated fractions of plasma homovanillic acid (pHVA) were repeatedly measured. Free HVA levels decreased during the first 2 h of haloperidol intake (P < 0.03).

Enantioselective high-performance liquid chromatography determination of methadone enantiomers and its major metabolite in human biological fluids using a new derivatized cyclodextrin-bonded phase.

The simultaneous determination of methadone (Mtd) enantiomers and its major metabolite, 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP), in human urine and serum by enantioselective HPLC using a new Cyclobond 1-2000 RSP column is described. After alkaline extraction from urine or serum with estazolam as an internal standard, Mtd enantiomers and its metabolite (EDDP) are separated on the previous column with reversed-mobile phase and detected at 210 nm. Peak resolutions are about 2.

Neuroleptic-resistant schizophrenic patients treated by clozapine: clinical evolution, plasma and red blood cell clozapine and desmethylclozapine levels.

The aim of this open study was to determine a more rational therapeutic approach for psychotic patients treated with clozapine for several months, using measurement of plasma and red blood cell levels (P, RBC) of clozapine (cloza) and N-desmethylclozapine (descloza), the major metabolite of clozapine, which has been reported to be less active but more toxic (agranulocytosis) than clozapine itself. The RBC concentration may be considered as more representative of the free fraction drug. The study concerned 7 patients suffering from chronic paranoid schizophrenia according to the DSM-IV criteria.

[Pharmaco-clinical correlations during fluoxetine administration in patients with depressive schizophrenia treated with haloperidol decanoate].

The study concerned 7 patients suffering from schizophrenic disorder according to the DSM III R criteria, treated with a stable dose of haloperidol decanoate (Haldol décanoas) added with fluoxetine (Prozac) from 20 mg to 40 mg/day because of major depression. Patients were assessed at baseline and weekly during the first cycle, and then once a month before each haloperidol decanoate injection, using the brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS), the general clinical impression scale (CGI) and the Montgomery and Asberg depression rating scale (MADRS). Extrapyramidal and anticholinergic side-effects, blood pressure and pulse were noted.

Pharmacoclinical correlations in schizophrenic patients treated with haloperidol decanoate: clinical evaluations, concentrations of plasma and red blood cell haloperidol and its reduced metabolite, and plasma homovanillic acid.

1. The aim of this open study was to determine whether a more rational therapeutic approach could be devised for psychotic patients (n = 11) treated for long periods with long-acting (LA) haloperidol. The mean multiplication factor for the transition from the oral formulation to the long-acting one was 12.

Effect of pyridoxine and magnesium on stress-induced gastric ulcers in mice selected for low or high blood magnesium levels.

Gastric ulcers were induced by immobilization in adult female mice with genetically low (MGL) or high (MGH) blood magnesium levels, obtained by selective breeding at the CSAL-CNRS (Orléans, France). All animals, fed with the same standard diet rich in magnesium, were divided into four groups of 20 animals and injected subcutaneously every 2 days for 10 days with isotonic saline (group 1), pyridoxine chlorhydrate 1.11 mg/kg in saline (group 2), magnesium lactate 149 mg/kg in saline (group 3) or both pyridoxine and magnesium (group 4).

Determination of 5-hydroxytryptamine and tryptophan by liquid chromatography in whole blood. Its interest for the exploration of mental disorders.

1. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a well known neurotransmitter implicated in mental disorders, tryptophan (Trp) as amino acid precursor may be interesting. 2.

Brain weight and noradrenaline content in mice selected for low (MGL) and high (MGH) blood magnesium.

Brain noradrenaline content was determined by high performance liquid chromatography in adult male mice from three different strains: 40 mice with genetically low (MGL) or high (MGH) blood magnesium levels, obtained by selective breeding and 20 outbred Swiss albino mice. Brain wet weight and noradrenaline levels were significantly higher in MGL than in MGH and Swiss mice. Few or no differences were found between MGH and Swiss mice.

Rapid determination of 5-hydroxytryptamine in whole blood by liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection.

A rapid and simple reversed-phase (using muBondapak C18 as the stationary phase) liquid chromatographic method with fluorimetric detection is described for the quantitation of 5-hydroxytryptamine in whole blood. The rapidity and simplicity of the method are explained by the absence of a pretreatment. 5-Fluoro-dl-tryptophan was used as internal standard.

Effect of controlled-release carbidopa/levodopa on motor performance in advanced Parkinson's disease.

Twenty parkinsonian patients were treated with controlled-release carbidopa/levodopa (Sinemet CR). All were affected by therapeutic response fluctuations related to the timing of drug administration. The daily dosage after 1 year, 766 mg +/- 250 mg, was increased by 23% compared with standard Sinemet dosage, without additional secondary effects.

[Controlled release levodopa-benserazide and changes in efficacy during treatment of Parkinson's disease].

Twenty-five patients, 12 men and 13 women, 42 to 79 years (mean 62) were studied to determine possible interest of a controlled release preparation of L. dopa combined with benserazide. All patients were experiencing fluctuations in efficacy over the last 8 +/- 4 years.

Clinical trial of Madopar HBS in parkinsonian patients with fluctuating drug response after long-term levodopa therapy.

23 parkinsonian patients, 11 men and 12 women with an average age of 62 +/- 10 years, were recruited for an open substitution study of standard Madopar by Madopar HBS (hydrodynamically balanced system). All patients were presenting fluctuations in efficacy associated or not with abnormal involuntary movements. The patients in this study had been suffering from Parkinson's disease for 16 +/- 6 years and were severely disabled (Hoehn and Yahr grade III-V).

Vigilance states and cerebral monoamine metabolism in experimental magnesium deficiency.

Correlations between cerebral monoamine metabolism and electrophysiological parameters were compared in 18 male Wistar rats subjected to a magnesium-restricted diet and in 14 normal rats. During the 40-day experimental period, plasma and erythrocyte Mg2+ levels and plasma Ca2+ and phosphorus levels were measured, and electroencephalographic tracings as well as clinical data were recorded at regular intervals. At the end of the study, the animals were killed and cerebral concentrations of monoamines and their metabolites were determined.

[Plasma levels of desmethylclomipramine and clomipramine at steady-state in the morning. Correlative analysis and prediction of theoretical blood clomipramine].

Clomipramine (CMI) was administered to eight patients, either as an antidepressive drug or, in two patients, as an antalgic drug (average age: 54 y.; average body surface area: 1,71 m2). These patients were treated with 20 to 150 mg, every day, for various lengths of time: min.

[Circadian variations of the effects of ethanol and of blood ethanol values in the healthy adult man. Chronopharmacological study].

Six healthy young men (22 to 26 years) who had fasted for 12 hours volunteered for this study (subject synchronization: diurnal activity from 07(00) to midnight and nocturnal rest). A set dose of ethanol (0.67 g/kg body weight) was ingested at the fixed (and random) hours of 07(00), 11(00), 19(00) and 23(00), with a week between tests.