Clinical associations of 11-hydroxycorticosteroid suppression and non-suppression in severe depressive illnesses

Fifty patients with severe depression were separated into two groups by the responses of their plasma 11-hydroxycorticosteriod levels to a midnight dose of 2 mg. of dexamethasone. Clinical and questionary comparisons were made between the two groups of patients, who were similar as regards age, sex, and length of symptoms before admission to hospital. No differences were found between the groups of severely ill patients as regards the severity of their depression and anxiety assessed by questionary. Nevertheless, agitation was significantly greater in the patients whose corticosteroid levels were not suppressed by dexamethasone and adverse childhood experiences in those whose levels were suppressed.

Hypothalamic--pituitary function in depressive illness: insensitivity to hylycaemia

The insulin tolerance test was performed in 16 severely depressed patients on admission to hospital and after treatment with electric convulsion therapy. The mean plasma cortisol response to hypoglycaemia was significantly impaired before treatment, particularly in the patients who also showed resistance to dexamethasone suppression. The results are consistent with hypothalamic-pituitary insensitivity to hypoglycaemia in these subjects.

Resistance to suppression by dexamethasone of plasma 11-O.H.C.S. levels in severe depressive illness

Use of the midnight dexamethasone suppression test showed that the plasma 11-hydroxycorticosteroid (11-O.H.C.S.) level did not undergo its normal reduction in 14 out of 27 patients with severe depression. Resistance to dexamethasone suppression correlated with the clinical rating of the severity of depression, while recovery from depression was associated with return of normal responsiveness to dexamethasone. The explanation of these findings is unknown.

Survey of the U.S. Gulf Coast for the presence of Clostridium botulinum

In sediments and animals collected during warm weather months between Key West, Fla., and Brownsville, Tex., Clostridium botulinum, predominantly type E, was demonstrable. Incidence was somewhat higher in the eastern Gulf animals, but the organism was present to the southernmost limits of both Texas and Florida. Types A and F were never detected in warm weather. No bottom type or any single species seemed exclusively vulnerable. In samples collected during colder weather, the east-west incidence differential was minimized in animals but not in sediments, overall incidence was lowered, all known types were present, and type E no longer predominated. Detection by fluorescent-antibody techniques was found to be inadequate.

Spore germination and vegetative growth of Clostridium botulinum type E in synthetic media

A synthetic medium supporting growth of Clostridium botulinum type E, strain D8, from spore inocula was devised. The effects of single amino acid deletions or additions were studied. Certain of these were inhibitory, but none completely suppressed germination or subsequent vegetative growth. Spore germinations in solutions of single amino acids were also studied. Germination in some of these was delayed but it did occur in all cases.The effects of single vitamin omissions were followed from spore germination to growth maxima. Such deletions were essentially ineffectual.Additions of nucleic acids to the medium were somewhat stimulatory. Early growth curves approximated controls but maxima were superior to those of controls. The addition of purine or pyrimidine bases or pentose sugars did not greatly influence growth. Thymine or deoxyribose delayed spore germination.Additions of selected acids associated with lipids, or currently or historically with food preservation, were often detrimental but never completely inhibitory. The addition of citric and (or) lactic acid to the medium permitted toxin formation.