Bernard Korol

Classical and physiologic adaptive conditioned responses to anticholinergic drugs in conscious dogs

Abstract In conscious, unrestrained dogs, equivalent doses of atropine sulfate and Ditran produced a conditioned paradoxic salivary response and a classical conditioned response of mydriasis when the animals were placed into the experimental chamber. The onset and extinction rates for these responses were almost identical for both drug groups and onset appeared after as few as six treatment sessions. Although these drugs arc parasympatholytic agents, a possible explanation of the responses implicates a sympathetic nervous system activation.

Ethanol and Methanol Metabolites in Alcohol Withdrawal

THE twenty-one subjects participating in this study were serial admissions to the St Louis Detoxification Center during the period of December 2–21, 1971. Their ages ranged from 29 to 72 yr and they comprised twenty males and one female. A blood sample (10 ml) was obtained from the patient on admission, when a symptom intensity rating evaluation was carried out1,2. Blood concentrations of ethanol, methanol, acetaldehyde and formaldehyde-formate were determined by gas-liquid chromatography3,4. This procedure was repeated on four consecutive days (total of five samples), after which the patient was discharged from the Center.

Relationship Between Plasma Diltiazem and Cardiovascular Responses in Conscious Dogs

Summary Conscious dogs were given diltiazem hydrochloride (DTZ) orally for 5 successive days at doses of 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg/day. During the 5th day, cardiovascular responses were monitored at various timed intervals after dosing. Arterial blood was sampled concomitantly for drug analysis. DTZ produced a dose-related decrease in blood pressure. The maximum reduction amounted to −30/-33 mm Hg in systolic/diastolic pressure, which occurred 90–150 min after the dose of 10 mg/kg. Heart rate and respiration were not significantly changed. There were dose-related alterations in the electrocardiogram tracing components, ranging from PR interval prolongation to junctional rhythms and ectopic beats. No overt physical responses were apparent. The mean DTZ peak plasma levels were approximately 708 ng/ml after 10 mg/kg, 224 ng/ml after 3 mg/kg, and 98 ng/ml after 1 mg/kg. The estimated t1/2 values for the 3− and 10-mg/kg/day dosings were 142 and 150 min, respectively. Correlations between the DTZ plasma level and the magnitude of the cardiovascular responses were highly significant in terms of blood pressure and PR interval changes. Low levels of DTZ were found 23 h after dosing. These levels were not associated with any meaningful cardiovascular activity.

Surgical preparation of externalized carotid artery loops in dogs

Abstract A surgical procedure is described for the permanent externalization of the common carotid artery in dogs. This preparation has been utilized for repeated direct continuous measurement of systolic and diastolic arterial pressures and for other procedures such as blood sampling, induction of the bilateral carotid occlusion response and for the intraarterial administration of drugs.

Effects of chronic chlorpromazine administration on systemic arterial pressure in schizophrenic patients: Relationship of body position to blood pressure

In schizophrenic patients, mean blood pressure differed significantly when the measurements were obtained in the standing, sitting, or supine positions. Highest arterial pressure occurred in the sitting position, and the lowest pressure in the supine position. Chronic chlorpromazine (CPZ) administration produced a significant lowering of mean arterial pressures obtained from schizophrenic patients in standing or sitting, but not in supine, positions. Chronic CPZ did not produce orthostatic hypotension but did significantly reduce the postural pressor responses produced by positional changes. Male patients showed significantly greater postural blood pressure responses in the sitting position than women, but both groups demonstrated equivalent blood pressure changes produced by chronic CPZ. Determination of upright and supine body position blood pressures in the clinical evaluation of drugs is suggested and discussed.

Use of the pigmentometer, a new device for measuring skin albedo: Relating skin color with a series of physiological measures

Use of the Pigmentometer, a new device for measuring skin albedo: Relating skin color with a series of physiological measures. An apparatus has been described for the indirect measurement of skin albedo in human subjects. This device operates on the principle of the reflectance of light as influenced by the lightness or darkness of the skin. This new equipment was used to examine the relationship between lightness or darkness of the skin and the basal level and responsivity of some autonomic nerovus system physiological variables in a series of 46 black and 47 white male and female subjects. It was observed that blacks had significantly lower (darker) skin albedo (PI), a significantly higher skin resistance (SR) and amplitude of the galvanic skin response (GSR), and an insignificant higher basal heart rate (HR). Pearson Product-Movement correlations between all measures from the total population showed significant relationships between PI and SR, SR and GSR and HR and HRR (heart rate response). The further separation of the total population into subgroups of blacks, whites, males, females, and black and white male and female groups, respectively, altered some of these differences and relationships previously observed. These results appeared to support the premise that race is more responsible for influencing the measured physiological responses, particularly SR, than is the lightness or darkness of the skin.

Behavioral and arterial pressure effects of pimetime in conscious dogs

Abstract Pimetine, 1-dimethylaminoethyl-4-benzylpiperidine, was investigated for activity in two experimental models using conscious dogs which have demonstrated high predictive ability in discerning psychotropic agents and categorizing them into tranquilizer or antidepressant classes. Pimetine treatment produced a dose-related reversal of the Ditran Rating Scale score at dose levels devoid of apparent direct behavioral effects. This drug also produced a moderate pressor effect associated with a potentiated acetylcholine arterial pressure response and inhibited responses to serotonin, bilateral carotid occlusion, tyramine and histamine. A clinical study of the antidepressant effects of pimetine is indicated by the results.

The results of alpha-adrenergic blockade on some behavioral and physiological effects of epinephrine.

&NA; This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that epinephrine infusion elicits behavioral arousal as a result of systolic blood pressure increase. Eight patients each received 6 epinephrine infusions, 3 preceded by 150 mg. phentolamine and 3 preceded by placebo. Epinephrine alone produced arousal. Phentolamine markedly reduced the epinephrine‐induced increase in systolic blood pressure and arousal occurred to a lesser degree than with epinephrine alone. It is suggested that the residual arousal may have resulted from the phentolamine‐epinephrine drug combination which caused a severe rise in pulse rate (mean of 122 beats per minute). Serial blood samples were taken for free fatty acids and cholesterol determinations. Phentolamine alone and epinephrine alone were accompanied by an increase in plasma unesterified (free) fatty acids (FFA). When phentolamine preceded epinephrine infusion, a more marked rise in FFA occurred than with either drug alone. Epinephrine elicited a slight, but not significant, increase in cholesterol levels. The results are discussed in relation to alpha‐ and beta‐adrenergic receptor mechanisms.

Total Fasting in Psychiatric Subjects: Psychological, Physiological and Biochemical Changes

Total fasting as a method for weight reduction has been used successfully in non-mental patients and found to produce an elevation in mood. In the present study, this method was explored in mental patients. Twenty-one patients began the fast. Three refused to co-operate from the start; four manifested an exacerbation of symptoms; four were unmotivated to continue more than four days; and ten completed the ten-day fast. the latter ten became relaxed and pleasant after the first few fasting days. Three patients requested a repeat fast. Weight loss ranged from 2.8 to 1.3 pounds per day. Changes were noted in hemoglobin, hematocrit, plasma unesterified fatty acids, CO2 combining power, urinary acetone, and urine specific gravity. This may prove to be a satisfactory approach to weight reduction in mental patients.