Search results for "Sants"
showing 10 items of 262 documents
A fatal paramethoxymethamphetamine intoxication.
2003
During the last years in Germany a marked increase in the use of amphetamines such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) has been observed. The use of these recreational drugs is especially common among young people participating in rave parties. Occasionally ring-methoxylated phenethylamine derivatives like paramethoxymethamphetamine (PMMA) or paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA) are found in street drugs offered as ecstasy. These compounds exhibit a higher toxicity than the methylenedioxyamphetamine derivatives. We report on the death of a 22-year-old man after the ingestion of ecstasy pills containing PMMA and PMA. The PMMA concentration in femoral blood was 0.85 mg/l. Besides PMA…
Auditory event-related potentials (P300) in epileptic patients.
2001
Auditory event-related potentials (AERPs) were recorded during an auditory oddball paradigm in 108 epileptics and in 32 healthy controls. P300 latency varied in relationship with age only in controls. Symptomatic epileptics had significantly prolonged P300 mean latency compared to those without detectable brain lesion(s) on MR scan. Moreover, these latter patients were compared on the basis of epilepsy duration, type of seizure, seizure frequency and antiepileptic treatment; the application of a multiple regression model showed a significant relationship between P300 latency prolongation and epilepsy duration, seizure frequency and polytherapy.
Levels of GHB in hair after regular application.
2021
Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a central nervous system depressant that is an approved drug for the treatment of narcolepsy with cataplexy and other syndromes. Due to its dose dependent stimulating, relaxing or sedative effects, illicit abuses include recreational use by young people and cases of drug-facilitated crime (DFC). Since GHB is also produced endogenously, for forensic questions, it is important to be able to differentiate between endogenous GHB and elevated levels due to additional intake. In this study, we measured GHB concentrations in hair of patients with narcolepsy receiving daily GHB treatment. The results were compared to endogenous concentrations and concentrations after …
Apomorphine-Induced Growth Hormone Response Is Attenuated by Ethanol but Not Dextromethorphan
2007
Background: Misuse of alcohol drinking is a major health problem. Alcohol decreases spontaneous growth hormone (GH) secretion, but the mechanism is unclear. The aim of this study was to test whether administration of alcohol (study 1) or a N-methyl d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist (study 2) attenuates the GH response to pharmacological dopaminergic stimulation. Methods: The 2-session repeated measures design was conducted at the endocrine laboratory at the Department of Psychiatry at the Free University Berlin. Twenty healthy Caucasian males aged 35±10 years without a history of alcohol use disorders were tested using the Apomorphine (APO) challenge test. In study 1, we injected APO (…
Use of gabapentin to reduce chronic neuropathic pain in Fabry disease.
2003
The effect of the anticonvulsant gabapentin on neuropathic pain was studied in six male patients with Fabry disease, aged 15-45 years. After 4 weeks of treatment, pain, as measured using the Brief Pain Inventory, was decreased compared with baseline. Treatment was generally well tolerated. This study indicates that gabapentin should be considered as a treatment option for the neuropathic pain of Fabry disease.
Non-fatal and fatal liver failure associated with valproic acid.
2012
Little is known about hepatotoxicity associated with valproic acid (VPA), a widely used substance in neuropsychiatry.All reported cases to the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices between 1993 and 2009 of VPA-induced serious hepatic side effects were evaluated.A total of 132 cases of serious VPA-associated liver failure were identified. Approximately one third (34.8%) occurred under VPA monotherapy, while the majority was seen with VPA plus co-medication, most frequently antiepileptics (34.8%) and benzodiazepines (16.7%). A subgroup of 34 cases (25.8%) had a fatal outcome, the largest number reported to date. Of these, 32.4% were under VPA monotherapy and 67.6% under VPA p…
Oxidative stress markers in the neocortex of drug-resistant epilepsy patients submitted to epilepsy surgery
2013
Summary Purpose While there is solid experimental evidence of brain oxidative stress in animal models of epilepsy, it has not been thoroughly verified in epileptic human brain. Our purpose was to determine and to compare oxidative stress markers in the neocortex of epileptic and non-epileptic humans, with the final objective of confirming oxidative stress phenomena in human epileptic brain. Methods Neocortical samples from drug-resistant epilepsy patients submitted to epilepsy surgery ( n =20) and from control, non-epileptic cortex samples ( n =11) obtained from brain bank donors without neurological disease, were studied for oxidative stress markers: levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS)…
Drug-induced pertubation of the aminothiol redox-status in patients with epilepsy: improvement by B-vitamins.
2008
Summary Objectives Patients with epilepsy have excess morbidity and mortality due to ischemic cardiovascular disease. Many of these patients have elevated concentrations of plasma total homocysteine (Hcy), which is an acknowledged risk factor for cardiovascular disease, venous thromboembolic disease, foetal malformations and dementia. Hyperhomocysteinemia may have negative effects through mechanisms involving oxidative damage. In the present study, we have investigated the aminothiol redox-status in patients on antiepileptic drugs. Thereafter, in a subset of patients with elevated total Hcy, we evaluated the effect of B-vitamin therapy. Methods In the first part of the study, 101 patients o…
Relation between Sexual Dysfunctions and Epilepsy, Type of Epilepsy, Type of Antiepileptic Drugs: A Prospective Study
2017
Introduction The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of sexual dysfunctions in males with epilepsy, the type of epilepsy, the frequency of seizures, the type of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), the serum hormonal profile and the presence of psychiatric comorbidity. Methods Sixty-one patients focused on type of epilepsy, frequency of seizures, AEDs, hormonal profile and presence of mood disorders. We excluded all patients with severe neurologic and psychiatric impairment and patient who were not able to fill questionnaires. Mean age was 31.2 years (range 18-50 years); 31 patients (50.8%) had an idiopathic generalised epilepsy and 30 (49.2%) a focal epilepsy; among them, latter 18 (60%…
Comparative neurocognitive effects of lithium and anticonvulsants in long-term stable bipolar patients
2015
Background: The aim of choosing a mood-stabilizing drug (lithium or anticonvulsants) or a combination of them with minimal neurocognitive effects is to stimulate the development of criteria for a therapeutic adequacy, particularly in Bipolar Disorder (BD) patients who are clinically stabilized. Method: Three groups of BD patients were established according to their treatment: (i) lithium monotherapy (n=29); (ii) lithium together with one or more anticonvulsants (n=28); and (iii) one or more anticonvulsants (n=16). A group of healthy controls served as the control (n=25). The following tests were applied: Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Trail Making Test, Wechsler Memory Scale, Rey Comple…