Characterization of ethanol-induced casein micelle dissociation using a continuous protein monitoring unit.

The effect of ethanol on milk has been shown to be temperature-dependent, with higher ethanol concentrations and temperatures reversibly dissociating casein micelles. This work looked to expand on this knowledge, while also demonstrating the efficiency and precision of a custom-made continuous monitoring unit that combines solutions at defined concentrations and temperatures while measuring various parameters (i.e., absorbance, fluorescence, pressure). Caseins were found to self-associate at moderate ethanol concentrations (i.e., 12-36% vol/vol ethanol); however, they dissociated and remained in the serum at higher ethanol concentrations (≥48% vol/vol) and temperatures (24 and 34°C). Although serum casein content was found to be positively correlated with protein hydrophobicity, the addition of ethanol only increased protein hydrophobicity when the sample was held at high temperatures (34-64°C). Overall, the greatest dissociation of casein micelles was found between 40 and 60% (vol/vol) ethanol concentration at elevated temperatures (≥34°C). At these ethanol concentrations and temperatures, skim milk absorbance was minimized, serum casein content (including ß-casein content) was maximized, and protein hydrophobicity reached a relative maximum.

Response of catatonia to risperidone: two case reports.

The present study describes two patients, both of Yemenite origin, with catatonic schizophrenia who responded to treatment with risperidone. One had a long history of psychiatric disorder, whereas the other was a first-episode, drug-naive patient. Our observation agrees with previous reports on the use of risperidone and other novel neuroleptic agents in the treatment of catatonia of different etiologies.

Mianserin or placebo as adjuncts to typical antipsychotics in resistant schizophrenia.

The beneficial effect of atypical antipsychotic drugs (APDs) in treatment-resistant schizophrenia patients has been attributed, mostly, to their relatively high serotonergic (5-HT)2 to dopaminergic (D)2 receptor blockade ratio. We hypothesized that a combination of typical APDs (D2 antagonists) and mianserin, a potent 5-HT2 antagonist, might also exert superior efficacy in this population. Eighteen inpatients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia who had an acute psychotic exacerbation of the disorder received, in a double-blind design, 30 mg/day mianserin (n = 9) or placebo (n = 9) in conjunction with typical neuroleptics [haloperidol (n = 9) or perphenazine (n = 9)]. Clinical status was evaluated before, during, and at the end of 6 weeks of combined treatment with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. The typical APD/mianserin group exhibited significantly greater improvement in total BPRS scores (17.6% versus 5.5%; P= 0.03) and a trend towards greater improvement in SAPS scores (35.3% versus 13.0%; P = 0.07). Our study indicates that patients with chronic treatment-resistant schizophrenia who have an acute psychotic exacerbation ('acute-on-chronic') may benefit from the addition of a potent 5-HT2 blocker, such as mianserin, to typical antipsychotics. Our findings may further emphasize the contribution of enhanced 5-HT2 blockade to the 'atypicality' of the atypical APDs and to their greater efficacy in alleviating symptoms of chronic treatment-resistant schizophrenia.