RESUMO
A reproducible 7Li nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method, based on a modified inversion recovery (MIR) pulse sequence, was used to discriminate between intra- and extracellular lithium concentrations in red blood cell (RBC) suspensions. The rates of Na(+)-Li+ countertransport determined by the 7Li NMR method were significantly correlated with the measurements made by atomic absorption (AA) for 14 psychiatric patients receiving lithium carbonate (r = 0.937) and 14 normal individuals (r = 0.931). As expected, the rates of Na(+)-Li+ countertransport measured by MIR were significantly lower for the psychiatric patients receiving lithium carbonate than for normal individuals. The 7Li NMR method provides RBC Li+ countertransport information comparable to AA for psychiatric patients and normal individuals. A description of the advantages of the 7Li NMR method in contrast to the AA method, including the study of Li+ interactions with RBC components such as membrane proteins and anionic phospholipids, is included.
Assuntos
Transtorno Bipolar/sangue , Eritrócitos/metabolismo , Lítio/farmacocinética , Espectroscopia de Ressonância Magnética/métodos , Adulto , Transtorno Bipolar/tratamento farmacológico , Membrana Eritrocítica/metabolismo , Feminino , Humanos , Lítio/uso terapêutico , Carbonato de Lítio , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Sódio/sangueRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that pathological gambling and substance abuse may be more likely to occur together than expected by chance. We examined this possibility as well as explored psychosocial and diagnostic variables that may be associated with this coincidence. METHOD: Of 276 patients who were administered the South Oaks Gambling Screen, 134 subjects were interviewed using a semistructured comprehensive psychiatric questionnaire. Data analysis utilized Student t tests or analysis of variance routines. RESULTS: The rate of comorbid pathological gambling in the sample was 33% (92 of 276). A high rate of comorbid substance abuse and pathological gambling was associated with a positive history of childhood experiences of gambling in the family group (p = .001) and with larger family size (p = .001). In addition, current alcohol consumption was significantly higher (p = .007) in the pathological gambling group. CONCLUSION: Comorbidity of substance abuse and pathological gambling is common in substance abuse patients in a VA hospital. Substance abuse treatment programs should identify patients with pathological gambling and include treatment interventions that address both problems.