P50 sensory gating deficit is a common marker of vulnerability to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: P50 gating in schizophrenia has contributed much to our understanding of the pathophysiology of the illness. We examined euthymic bipolar patients to determine if they also have a P50 gating deficit. METHOD: P50 gating was measured in 81 euthymic bipolar patients (50 with a lifetime history of psychotic symptoms), 92 stable schizophrenic patients, and 67 control subjects. RESULTS: P50 gating was significantly lower in control subjects than in bipolar patients with a lifetime history of psychosis (P = 0.001) and schizophrenic patients (P = 0.0001). In all patient groups, the percentage of patients with P50 gating was higher than in the control group (chi(2) = 30.596; P < 0.0001). There was no statistically significant correlation between P50 gating and other clinical variables. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that P50 gating deficit is a neurobiological marker that is present in stable schizophrenic patients and euthymic bipolar patients.

[Nocturnal use of pirenzepine in young insulin dependent diabetics. Results of a 6-months treatment period]. / Uso de pirenzepina oral nocturna en jóvenes diabéticos insulino-dependientes. Resultados tras 6 meses de tratamiento.

Previous studies have demonstrated an elevation in GH in adult insulin-dependent diabetics which can be modified by administration of pirenzepina either IV or orally. In this study we have evaluated the mean nocturnal GH levels (MNGH) and HbA1-C levels in a group of young insulin-dependent diabetics, both before and after treatment with pirenzepina (Gastrozepin). The study population included 8 patients, 6 males and 2 females, between the ages of 12 and 17 years, with a mean of 15.6 years. Pirenzepina was administered during one month at a nightly oral dose of 0.6 mg/kg followed by 5 months of treatment with 1 mg/kg. The most important results obtained in the study are the following: 1) Nocturnal administration of pirenzepina did not significantly modify the MNGH in the study population (10.88 +/- 3.81 ng/ml vs 9.57 +/- 8.25 ng/ml, p > 0.05). 2) This pharmaceutical did not alter the plasma levels of HbA1-C (9.57 +/- 8.25 vs 10.01 +/- 2.30, p > 0.05). However, 5 out of 8 patients had a decrease in their nocturnal GH secretion after pirenzepina treatment. If only the 5 patients that responded to this treatment are considered, the differences in MNGH are significant (10.48 +/- 4.94 before treatment vs 4.35 +/- 2.53 following treatment, p < 0.05). Therefore, we conclude that oral pirenzepina treatment for 6 months, at the doses described, do not consistently decrease GH secretion in young diabetics nor does it decrease HbA1-C values in this group. However, further studies are necessary to establish the possible value of this treatment.

[Nocturnal use of pirenzepine by a group of insulin dependent juvenile diabetics]. / Uso de pirenzepina oral nocturna en jóvenes diabéticos insulino-dependientes.

Different studies have shown an elevation of GH levels in insulin-dependent diabetic adults and its modification after pirenzepine administration. We have studied nocturnal GH secretion (NIGHS) and fructosamine levels before and after one month of administering a nocturnal dose of pirenzepine [Gastrozepin (R.) 0.6 mg/kg] in a group of eight young insulin-dependent diabetics, 6 males and 2 females. The ages of the subjects ranged between 12 and 17 years with a mean age of 15.28 years. The most important findings were: 1) The NIGHS was not modified by pirenzepine administration, 10.88 +/- 3.81 ng/ml/min vs 11.25 +/- 7.90 ng/ml/min, p greater than 0.05. However, two patients showed a clear decrease in their G.H. levels. 2) Plasma fructosamine levels were also unaffected, 409 +/- 101 mmol/l vs 361 +/- 127 mmol/l, p greater than 0.05. However, the levels of five individual patients decreased after pirenzepine administration. We conclude that oral pirenzepine administration at this dose does not modify GH secretion nor improve short term metabolic control of the disease in young insulin-dependent diabetics. Further investigation, using higher doses and for a more prolonged period of time, is necessary to know the long term effects of this treatment.

[Spontaneous and GHRH-induced nocturnal GH secretion in a child population with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus]. / Secreción de G. H. nocturna espontánea y tras GHRH en una población de niños con diabetes mellitus insulino-dependiente.

It has been studied integrated nocturnal secretion of GH after GHRH test in 15 diabetic children and 10 short stature children with normal GH secretion. The most important findings are: 1) The integrated nocturnal secretion of GH was significantly higher in diabetics than in controls (6.27 +/- 3.11 ngrs/ml/min versus 3.06 +/- 1.41 ngrs/ml/min P [symbol; see text] 0.01). 2) After an acute stimulous with GHRH, diabetic population shows an exaggerated secretion of G. H. during the first 90 minutes compared with control population (33.20 +/- 12.41 ngrs/ml/min versus 18.18 +/- 11.09 P [symbol; see text] 0.01). 3) Both higher spontaneous secretion of G. H., and after GHRH test, are independent of metabolic control (mean nocturnal glycemies and HBA1) and evolution time of disease.

[Clinical application of the dexamethasone suppression test in the differentiation of subgroups in anorexia nervosa]. / Aplicación clínica del "test" de supresión con dexametasona en la diferenciación de subgrupos en la anorexia nerviosa.

This paper analyzes the usefulness of DST to identify subgroups in 27 patients with anorexia nervosa. The results obtained from this investigation don't show significant differences between the suppressors and nonsuppressors based on any of the following variables: weight loss, age, duration of the illness, weight at admittance, percentage of ideal weight and cortisol and ACTH baseline levels. However, we have found a correlation between substantially underweight patients (less than 75% of the ideal weight) and nonsuppression, and between bulimic episodes and suppression. 74.1% of our patients had abnormal DST. The DST does not appear to be useful to establish anorexia nervosa subgroups.

Basal hypersecretion of cortisol in relation to abnormal dexamethasone suppression test response in depression.

The activity of the hypothalamus-hypophysis-adrenal axis was evaluated in a group of patients with primary affective disorder by correlation of basal cortisol hypersecretion and abnormal response to dexamethasone suppression test (DST). The increase in basal cortisol was not found to be responsible for suppression failure. Moreover, this biochemical abnormality was common in the groups of psychiatric patients studied, although the physiopathologic mechanisms involved are different. Further research is necessary to clarify the results.

[Clinical and endocrinological aspects of delusional depression]. / Aspectos clínicos y neuroendocrinológicos de las depresiones delirantes.

A comparative study of 26 delusional depressive patients versus 47 non-delusional depressed controls is presented. In addition to the clinical evaluation, the dexamethasone suppression test was performed. The results show higher severity and increased retardation in the delusional sample. The breakdown of delusions demonstrates that the most common delusions were of reference and guilt. Multiple delusions were found more frequently than one type of delusions. The D.S.T. results show no significant differences between the rates of abnormal responses in both groups. However in the delusional depressive sample with mood-incongruency there was a higher percentage of normal responses.

Aspectos clinicos y neuroendocrinologicos de las depresiones delirantes. / Clinical and endocrinological aspects of delusional depression

Se describen los datos obtenidos en un analisis comparativo de 26 pacientes con depresion delirante y 47 controles con depresion simple. Ademas de la evaluacion clinica se procedio a la aplicacion del test de supresion de la dexametasona. Los resultados del estudio en la muestra delirante muestran una edad media mas avanzada asi como una mayor gravedad de la sintomatologia y un predominio de la inhibicion. El analisis del contenido delirante indica que los delirios mas comunes son los de culpa y paranoide, constatandose en la mayoria de los casos mas de un tipo de delirio. Los resultados del test de supresion de la dexametasona no arrojan diferencias significativas entre los porcentajes de respuestas anormales correspondientes a ambas muestras. Sin embargo, en el subgrupo de depresiones delirantes con incongruencia del animo se ha encontrado un mayor porcentaje de respuestas normales

Aspectos clínicos y neuroendocrinológicos de las depresiones delirantes. / [Clinical and endocrinological aspects of delusional depression]

A comparative study of 26 delusional depressive patients versus 47 non-delusional depressed controls is presented. In addition to the clinical evaluation, the dexamethasone suppression test was performed. The results show higher severity and increased retardation in the delusional sample. The breakdown of delusions demonstrates that the most common delusions were of reference and guilt. Multiple delusions were found more frequently than one type of delusions. The D.S.T. results show no significant differences between the rates of abnormal responses in both groups. However in the delusional depressive sample with mood-incongruency there was a higher percentage of normal responses.

Aspectos clinicos y neuroendocrinologicos de las depresiones delirantes. / Clinical and endocrinological aspects of delusional depression

Se describen los datos obtenidos en un analisis comparativo de 26 pacientes con depresion delirante y 47 controles con depresion simple. Ademas de la evaluacion clinica se procedio a la aplicacion del test de supresion de la dexametasona. Los resultados del estudio en la muestra delirante muestran una edad media mas avanzada asi como una mayor gravedad de la sintomatologia y un predominio de la inhibicion. El analisis del contenido delirante indica que los delirios mas comunes son los de culpa y paranoide, constatandose en la mayoria de los casos mas de un tipo de delirio. Los resultados del test de supresion de la dexametasona no arrojan diferencias significativas entre los porcentajes de respuestas anormales correspondientes a ambas muestras. Sin embargo, en el subgrupo de depresiones delirantes con incongruencia del animo se ha encontrado un mayor porcentaje de respuestas normales