Eginition Hospital Research Articles

Comorbidity of mood disorders with alcoholism : an immunocytochemical approach : M. Chrysanthou-Piterou, M.R. Issidorides. Department of Psychiatry, University of Athens, Eginition Hospital and Neurobiology Research Institute, Theodor Theohari Cozzika Foundation, Athens, Greece

Maternal obesity plays a key role in the health trajectory of the offspring. Although research on this topic has largely focused on the potential of this condition to increase the risk for child obesity, it is becoming more and more evident that it can also significantly impact cognitive function and mental health. The mechanisms underlying these effects are starting to be elucidated and point to the placenta as a critical organ that may mediate changes in the response to stress, immune function and oxidative stress. Long-term effects of maternal obesity may rely upon epigenetic changes in selected genes that are involved in metabolic and trophic regulations of the brain. More recent evidence also indicates the gut microbiota as a potential mediator of these effects. Overall, understanding cause-effect relationships can allow the development of preventive measures that could rely upon dietary changes in the mother and the offspring. Addressing diets appears more feasible than developing new pharmacological targets and has the potential to affect the multiple interconnected physiological pathways engaged by these complex regulations, allowing prevention of both metabolic and mental disorders.

Psychopharmacology: from ancient roots to future directions : G.N. Christodoulou. University of Athens, Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, 74 Vas. Sophias Av., Athens, Greece

Psychopharmacology: from ancient roots to future directions : G.N. Christodoulou. University of Athens, Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, 74 Vas. Sophias Av., Athens, Greece

Administration of citalopram before ECT: prolactin response and seizure duration : Y.G. Papakostas, M. Markianos, I.M. Zervas, M.A. Theodoropoulou, and N. Vaidakis. Department of Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Eginition Hospital, 72-74 Vas Sophias Avenue, Athens 115 28, Greece

Administration of citalopram before ECT: prolactin response and seizure duration : Y.G. Papakostas, M. Markianos, I.M. Zervas, M.A. Theodoropoulou, and N. Vaidakis. Department of Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Eginition Hospital, 72-74 Vas Sophias Avenue, Athens 115 28, Greece

Risperidone in negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Preliminary findings : L. Lykouras, J. Hatzimanolis, P. Oulis, G.N. Christodoulou. Department of Psychiatry, Athens University, Eginition Hospital, Athens 115 28, Greece

Risperidone in negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Preliminary findings : L. Lykouras, J. Hatzimanolis, P. Oulis, G.N. Christodoulou. Department of Psychiatry, Athens University, Eginition Hospital, Athens 115 28, Greece

Treatment of depression in schizophrenia : L. Lykouras. Athens University, Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Athens 115 28 Greece

Recently, we have described the beneficial effects of Diphenyl diselenide, an organochalcogen with glutathione peroxidase-like activity, on reserpine-induced orofacial dyskinesia in old rats. In this study, our aim was to examine the effects of diselenide on haloperidol-induced orofacial dyskinesia in rats. Male wistar rats received one single dose of Haloperidol decanoate (57 mg/kg/im) or control. After this dose, the animals received daily administration of diphenyl diselenide (1, 5 or 10 mg/kg/sc) or control, during 28 days. Twenty-four hours after the last diselenide or control solution injection, all the rats were observed for quantification of oral dyskinesia through the frequency of vacuous chewing movements (VCM) and tongue protrusion (TP) and the duration of facial twitching (FT). Haloperidol caused a significant increase in VCM, TP and FT observed in the 4 weekly evaluations (p < 0.05). The co-administration of diselenide (5 mg/kg) reversed this effect for all the parameters in four behavioral sessions.The results of the present study demonstrate the possible protective activity of diphenyl diselenide on haloperidol-induced orofacial diskinesia. This effect is in accordance to the involvement of neurotoxicity in orofacial dyskinesia and suggest that studies be continued with new antioxidant compounds.

The relationship between alexithymia and depression-like symptomatology in drug users : J. Liappas, E. Peppas, A.D. Rabavilas, T. Paparrigopoulos, P. Papavasiliou, G.N. Chrisitodoulou. Athens University Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Greece

The relationship between alexithymia and depression-like symptomatology in drug users : J. Liappas, E. Peppas, A.D. Rabavilas, T. Paparrigopoulos, P. Papavasiliou, G.N. Chrisitodoulou. Athens University Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Greece

Dopamine receptors and major depression: A genetic study : D.G. Dikeos, G.N. Papadimitriou, G. Karadima, E.G. Daskalopoulou, D. Avramopoulos, D.C. Vassilopoulos ∗, C.N. Stefanis. Athens University Medical School, Departments of Psychiatry and ∗Neurology, Clinical and Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Eginition Hospital, and University Mental Health Research Institute, Athens, Greece

A neutral endopeptidase (NEP) fromLactococcus lactishas recently been cloned and shown to contain high sequence homology with the human neutral endopeptidase, endopeptidase 24.11 (I. Mierauet al., J. Bacteriol.175, 2087–2096, 1993). The gene for the neutral endopeptidase fromL. lactiswas cloned into the pQE expression vector, resulting in the fusion of a hexahistidine at the N-terminus. The recombinant enzyme was expressed to high levels inEscherichia coli(∼10 mg/liter of culture) and purified to homogeneity in a two-step procedure. A number of peptides were studied as substrates for the enzyme. The enzyme cleaves the following peptides at the Gly3–Phe4bond: enkephalins, dynorphins A-6, A-8, A-9, A-10, A-13, and A-17, and α-neo-endorphin. In addition the enzyme hydrolyzes bradykinin, substance P, β-endorphin, ACTH, and VIP. Although the cleavage patterns observed are similar to that seen with mammalian neutral endopeptidase, the lactococcal enzyme more efficiently cleaves larger peptide substrates. As observed with the mammalian neutral endopeptidase, the lactococcal enzyme exhibits higherkcat/Kmvalues for the enkephalins than for their corresponding amides, indicating the functionality of an active-site arginine. Inactivation of the lactococcal endopeptidase by diethyl pyrocarbonate and protection afforded by the substrate dynorphin A-6 indicate the functionality of a positionally conserved active-site histidine. This was confirmed by demonstrating that conversion of this histidine, histidine 587, to glutamine generated inactive enzyme. Similarly, conversion of the putative zinc ligand glutamate 535 to glutamine led to inactive enzyme. These studies indicate a conservation of critical catalytic residues between the two enzymes and suggest that the lactococcal endopeptidase is a better model than thermolysin for the mammalian enzyme.

Risperidone-clozapine combination for refractory schizophrenia : I.M. Zervas, I. Mantonakis, K. Kattan. Department of Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Eginition Hospital, 72-74 Vas Sophias Avenue, Athens 115 28, Greece

Risperidone-clozapine combination for refractory schizophrenia : I.M. Zervas, I. Mantonakis, K. Kattan. Department of Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Eginition Hospital, 72-74 Vas Sophias Avenue, Athens 115 28, Greece

Long-term prognosis of schizophrenia: methodological and practical problems in a study of influencing factors : I. Mantonakis, K. Kattan, F. Contos, D. Karvelis, E. Mellos, C.N. Stefanis. University Mental Health Research Institute (U.M.H.R.I.) Department of Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Eginition Hospital 72-74 Vas. Sophias Avenue, Athens 11528, Greece

Influence of matrix and structure types of the weakly basic anion exchange resins such as Amberlyst A-23, Amberlyst A-24 and Dowex-WGR-2 onto palladium(II) sorption from the chloride and chloride–nitrate media was investigated. The addition of sodium chloride as well as the effect of acids concentration on Pd(II) sorption were taken into account. The batch and column methods were applied. Moreover, the isotherm for the most efficient resin – Amberlyst A-23 was determined. The Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin–Pyzhev equations, which are commonly used for describing sorption equilibrium were applied in the analysis of the obtained results. The breakthrough curves of palladium(II) and the sorption parameters (distribution coefficients (Kd, K′d), ion exchange capacities (Cr, Ct), time required for the moving and formation of exchange zone (tm, tf)) were determined. In order to trace the sorption process the FT-IR spectra of the pure anion exchange resins and those loaded with palladium(II) were recorded, too. Satisfactory results were obtained for all examined resins but the largest sorption capacities were found for Amberlyst A-23 (9.99–7.61 mg/g). Sodium chloride addition, high concentrations of hydrochloric and nitric acids cause reduction of equilibrium and working sorption capacity values.

Successful treatment of obsessive — compulsive disorder with concurrent schizotypal personality disorder : V. Kontaxakis, D. Dikeos, E. Eschenbecher, G.N. Christodoulou. Department of Psychiatry, University of Athens, Eginition Hospital 74 Vas. Sophias avenue, 115 28 Athens, Greece

Successful treatment of obsessive — compulsive disorder with concurrent schizotypal personality disorder : V. Kontaxakis, D. Dikeos, E. Eschenbecher, G.N. Christodoulou. Department of Psychiatry, University of Athens, Eginition Hospital 74 Vas. Sophias avenue, 115 28 Athens, Greece

Presence of acidophilic neurons in frontal cortex indicative of cellular dysfunction in depression : Marietta R. Issidorides, Ph.D., Margarita Chrysanthou, M.A. Department of Psychiatry, University of Athens, Eginition Hospital, Athens 115 28, Greece

Presence of acidophilic neurons in frontal cortex indicative of cellular dysfunction in depression : Marietta R. Issidorides, Ph.D., Margarita Chrysanthou, M.A. Department of Psychiatry, University of Athens, Eginition Hospital, Athens 115 28, Greece

Disturbances of perception in depressive patients.

In a sample of 121 depressive patients hospitalized at Eginition Hospital from 1976 to 1980, 22 (18.2%) patients manifested disturbances of perception and, with 1 exception, all patients had hallucinations. Auditory and visual hallucinations were the most frequent. The group of patients with disturbances of perception had a positive family history for affective illness (p less than 0.025), a smaller number of previous depressive episodes (p less than 0.05), a greater frequency of delusional thinking (p less than 0.001) and psychomotor agitation (p less than 0.05).

Abstracts of the Second International Single-Fiber Electromyography Symposium Athens, Greece, May 12--16, 1980.

Abstracts of the Second International Single-Fiber Electromyography Symposium Athens, Greece, May 12--16, 1980.

Observations on the evolution of the hysterical symptomatology.

A retrospective study of the records of 17,571 psychiatric patients who attended the out-patients department of Eginition Hospital in Athens during three two-year periods (1948-50, 1958-60 and 1969-71) revealed a statistically significant decrease in the frequency of patients diagnosed as suffering from hysteria, a statistically significant decrease in the relative frequency of patients with hysterical fits and with mental conversion symptoms, and a statistically significant increase in the relative frequency of patients with mixed conversion symptoms. The findings confirm the notion that hysteria is still a 'woman's disease', although a statistically significant increase in male participation was noted. The significance of the above findings for the understanding of certain aspects of hysteria is discussed.