Hydroelementation and Phosphinidene Transfer: Reactivity of Phosphagermenes and Phosphastannenes Towards Small Molecule Substrates.

We describe the facile synthesis of [(Me Si) CH] E=PMes* (E=Ge, Sn) from the reaction of the tetrylenes with the phospha-Wittig reagent, Me P-PMes*. Their reactivity towards a range of substrates with protic and hydridic E-H bonds (E=N, O, Si) is described. In addition to hydroelementation reactions of the E=P bonds, we show that these compounds, particularly [(Me Si) CH] Sn=PMes*, also act as base-stabilized phosphinidenes, allowing phosphinidene transfer to other nucleophiles.

Reading in schizophrenic subjects and their nonsymptomatic first-degree relatives.

Previous studies have demonstrated eye movement abnormalities during smooth pursuit and antisaccadic tasks in schizophrenia. However, eye movements have not been investigated during reading. The purpose of this study was to determine whether schizophrenic subjects and their nonsymptomatic first-degree relatives show eye movement abnormalities during reading.

Abnormal prediction error is associated with negative and depressive symptoms in schizophrenia.

Prediction error in learning is where learning occurs to the degree to which an outcome consequent to a stimulus is surprising. It has been suggested that abnormal use of prediction error in schizophrenia may underlie the formation of inappropriate associations giving rise to psychotic symptoms. Kamin blocking is a phenomenon that demonstrates prediction error.

Measuring memory impairment in community-based patients with schizophrenia. Case-control study.

Background: The majority of memory impairment studies in schizophrenia are cohort studies using laboratory-based tests, which make it difficult to estimate the true extent and relevance of memory impairment in patients with schizophrenia in the community.

Aims: To examine the extent of memory impairment in community-based patients with schizophrenia using a clinically relevant test.

Method: All patients with schizophrenia (n=190) in one catchment area were identified, of whom 133 were potentially eligible for the study; 73 patients volunteered to take part.

Randomised controlled trial of animal facilitated therapy with dolphins in the treatment of depression.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of animal facilitated therapy with dolphins, controlling for the influence of the natural setting, in the treatment of mild to moderate depression and in the context of the biophilia hypothesis.

Setting: The study was carried out in Honduras, and recruitment took place in the United States and Honduras.

Design: Single blind, randomised, controlled trial.

Successful treatment of refractory schizophrenia with combined olanzapine and quetiapine in a patient with a prolactin secreting pituitary microadenoma.

Treatment-resistant schizophrenia presents a particular problem in patients who, for whatever reason, cannot be treated with clozapine. Pharmacological strategies for the further management of such individuals usually involve the coadministration of two or more antipsychotic drugs, leading to an increased potential for adverse effects. Hyperprolactinaemia (elevation of serum prolactin levels) is a common side-effect of antipsychotics and one that it is especially important to minimize in patients with primary pituitary pathology.

Treatment outcome in patients with chronic schizophrenia during long-term administration with risperidone.

Treatment outcome was evaluated in outpatients with chronic schizophrenia during long-term administration of risperidone in a study reflecting clinical practice. This UK multicenter, noncomparative, open trial was conducted in 79 patients. Risperidone treatment for 52 weeks commenced at 2 mg/d, with the option to titrate to 6 mg/d.

Reduced Kamin blocking in non paranoid schizophrenia: associations with schizotypy.

Kamin blocking (KB) is an attentional phenomenon whereby prior learning about a stimulus (A) retards learning about a new stimulus (B) when later presented in compound (AB) with the original stimulus A. KB has been shown to be reduced in patients with schizophrenia. Using Oades' KB paradigm it has been suggested that drug treatment may influence the expression of KB abnormalities in patients.

Improved antisaccade performance with risperidone in schizophrenia.

Objective: Antisaccade errors are consistently increased in schizophrenia. As they have been demonstrated only in cross sectional studies, it is unclear how they vary longitudinally or with different medications. In a previous cross sectional study, we reported a trend towards a reduction in error rates in a patient group treated with risperidone, compared with clozapine and sulpiride treated groups.

Effects of antidepressant treatments on first-ECT seizure duration in depression.

1. Current guidelines on the practice of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) suggest that antidepressant medications should be discontinued prior to the course of therapy. However, the practice of withholding potentially helpful medication is debatable because the effects of these medications on seizure duration remain unclear.

The effects of antipsychotic medication on saccadic eye movement abnormalities in Huntington's disease.

1. The study was a prospective open trial done to determine the effect of antipsychotic medication on saccadic eye movements in patients with Huntington's disease (HD). The authors tested 16 outpatients with HD, 8 of whom were drug free and 8 of whom were on antipsychotic medication.

Effects of clozapine and typical antipsychotic drugs on plasma 5-HT turnover and impulsivity in patients with schizophrenia: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of clozapine with typical antipsychotic drugs in controlling impulsivity and to explore the possible correlation of impulsivity with plasma 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels, plasma 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels and plasma 5-HT turnover.

Design: Prospective, cross-sectional study open to medication and blinded to biochemical analyses.

Participants: Healthy control subjects (n = 24) and 46 inpatients and outpatients meeting the DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia; 20 were being treated with clozapine and 26 were taking typical antipsychotic drugs.

An exploratory approach to the serotonin syndrome: an update of clinical phenomenology and revised diagnostic criteria.

Serotonin-related adverse side-effects of psychotropic drugs were first recorded in humans in 1960. However, since 1991, these related cases have been diagnosed as 'serotonin syndrome (SS)' according to the criteria reported by Sternbach. In this article, we have reviewed and further explored the validity of these criteria.

Antisaccade eye movement abnormalities in Tourette syndrome: evidence for cortico-striatal network dysfunction?

Saccadic eye movements are rapid eye movements which act to redirect the eyes from one object of interest to another. Accurately and objectively measurable, their underlying neuroanatomical mechanisms have been extensively studied. The antisaccade task allows the study of the frontocortico-striatal network involved in the voluntary control of saccadic eye movements.

Refractory symptomatic schizophrenia resulting from frontal lobe lesion: response to clozapine.

A 34-year-old man with a 10-year history of persistent auditory hallucinations and passivity delusions had failed to respond to a variety of conventional antipsychotic medications. He had a history of head trauma 8 years before the onset of psychiatric symptoms. Recent investigations revealed a post-traumatic infarct, situated in the left frontal lobe, on a magnetic resonance imaging scan.

The effects of clozapine on levels of total cholesterol and related lipids in serum of patients with schizophrenia: a prospective study.

Objective: To investigate the effects of 12 weeks of clozapine treatment on levels of cholesterol and related lipids in patients with schizophrenia.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: University department associated with a teaching hospital.

Effects of typical antipsychotic drugs and risperidone on the quality of sleep in patients with schizophrenia: a pilot study.

Objective: To investigate the effects of a newer antipsychotic drug, risperidone (a potent serotonin 5-HT2A/2C and dopamine D2-receptor blocker), on the quantity and quality of sleep in patients with schizophrenia.

Design: Prospective pilot study.

Setting: Outpatient treatment at a mental health hospital.

Effects of amphetamine on saccadic eye movements in man: possible relevance to schizophrenia?

The antisaccade task can be used to test the voluntary control of saccadic eye movements (SEMs). In many disorders with postulated hyperdopaminergic neurotransmission, there are reports of abnormalities in SEMs. To further investigate this, the role of dopamine in SEMs, performance on an antisaccade task was examined in subjects with a history of amphetamine use (a dopamine releaser and reuptake inhibitor).

Differential effects of transdermal nicotine on microstructured analyses of tics in Tourette's syndrome: an open study.

Background: The treatment of Tourette's syndrome (TS) is often unsatisfactory. However, there is some evidence that transdermal nicotine patch (TNP) application may improve tics of nonsmoking TS patients who are refractory to haloperidol treatment.

Methods: In this open study we applied two 10 mg TNP for 2 consecutive days to four TS patients whose symptoms were not controlled by haloperidol and to a never-medicated TS patient, all of whom are non-smokers.

Ssri-related toxic serotonin syndrome: improvement by discontinuation of treatment and propranolol.

We report three cases in which toxic serotonin syndrome developed in relation to three different selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) (ie, fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine), and which all responded to the discontinuation of the SSRI and also to an additional propranolol treatment.

Successful treatment of urinary incontinence with clozapine in a schizophrenic patient.

There is evidence that urinary incontinence (UI) can develop without any organic aetiology as a direct side effect of typical antipsychotic medication. Clozapine was administered to a chronic schizophrenic patient with UI who was refractory to typical antipsychotic medication. After various laboratory and functional tests, UI was demonstrated to be unrelated to any organic aetiology.