The effects of marijauna on verbalization and thought processes

The verbal output of subjects in response to 10 cards of the TAT was obtained on two occasions and under placebo, marijauna low and high conditions. The themes were independently rated on 13 variables reflecting thought processes, emotional tone, control aggression, and sexual content by two judges. Significant differential dosage differences were obtained in terms of disruption of cognitive processes, and emotional tone. Moreover, a multivariate analysis yielded a significant discrimination among the three experimental conditions.

The neuropsychological, psychiatric, and physical effects of prolonged and severe stress: 30 years later

This study investigates the long term or residual effects resulting from severe and extended exposure to stress. The samples were prisoners of war who were intended in Japan (high stress group) or Europe (low stress group) during the Second World War. They were examined in the following three areas: neuropsychological, psychiatric, and physical/neurological. Significant differences were found in all three spheres between the two groups. Second, to examine further the effect of length of internment on these variables, the low stress group was divided into long term and short term internment duration groups, and then the three groups were compared. Significant differences were found among these three groups. These results are discussed in relation to a traditional model of explanation.

Cognitive effects of ACTH 4-10 in the elderly

The polypeptide ACTH 4-10 has been shown to facilitate learning in animals, and possibly to improve attention and memory in normal human subjects. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of ACTH 4-10 in cognitively impaired elderly subjects. In a double blind, cross over design, 24 cognitively impaired geriatric outpatients (mean age=71.4, 12 with mild and 12 with severe impairment) received injections of 30 mg or 15 mg ACTH 4-10 or matched placebo on 3 successive days. A cognitive test battery of memory and nonmemory tests was administered each day both before and after treatment. The 30 mg dosage produced a slowing of simple visual RT, a nonsignificant improvement trend in verbal associative memory, and significant, severity dependent facilitation or impairment in day later visual memory. The results suggest that the ACTH 4-10 effects on cognitively impaired elderly are dependent on the dosage and on the baseline cognitive level of the subjects.

Drug patterns in the chronic marijuana user

The study examined the drug patterns and attitudes of a heavy marijuana user sample drawn from the local "counter-culture." The results indicate that the heavier marijuana user has a different subjective attitude and perception of the drug's effect than a light user. Second, multiple drug usage is, in general, the current and accepted mode within the sample. Finally, it appears that age of initial usage of a specific agent, duration, frequency of usage, and perceived drug effects may be dependent variables with reference to heavy marijuana and multiple drug usage. With respect to these variables, the question arises concerning what proportion of lighter drug using samples may, with time, adopt heavier and more varied drug patterns.

Effect of bile salts on lactosylceramide beta-galactosidase activities in human brain, liver and cultured skin fibroblasts

The effect of bile salts on the hydrolysis of lactosylcermide by human beta-galactosidases in vitro was studied using cultured skin fibroblasts, liver and brain tissue. The evidence for two distinct enzymes that can catalyze the hydrolysis of lactosylceramide was observed when the bile salt was changed from pure sodium taurocholate to either crude taurocholate, or pure glycodeoxycholate, taurodeoxycholate or taurochenodeoxycholate. Tissues from patients with Krabbe's disease were found to be deficient in lactosylceramide beta-galactosidase activity (lactosylceramidase I) when pure taurocholate was used in the assay. When crude taurocholate was used in the assay, the Krabbe patients appeared to have normal activity for this enzyme. In place of crude taurocholate the pure salts of glycodeoxycholate, taurodeoxycholate and taurochenodeoxycholate worked even better to stimulate the second lactosylceramide beta-galactosidase activity and GM1 gangliosidosis patients exhibiting little if any activity. Therefore, lactosylcermidase I is stimulated by crude taurocholate or pure glycodeoxycholate, taurodeoxycholate and taurochenodeoxycholate. The use of pure bile salts to assay lactosylceramidase I and II will result in better reproducibility for these enzyme activities between laboratories.

Measuring staff attitudes toward computerization

The authors developed and tested an 88-item scale designed to measure staff attitudes toward and knowledge about computers. A questionnaire was completed by 42 staff members at a psychiatric unit of a hospital where a health information system was being implemented; 28 of the staff members had attended a two-and-one-half day course on computer systems. Those who had completed the course had more favorable attitudes toward computerization than the 14 who did not. The authors described the findings and discuss their implications.

Postmaxillectomy rhinorrhea: corrected by transposition of parotid duct opening

Two patients experienced chronic rhinorrhea following maxillary resection for cancer. This annoying symptom had been persistent for 12 and 13 years, respectively. Transposition of the parotid duct orifice on the operated side from a position lying above the maxillary prosthesis to a point below the prosthesis brought relief. Both patients had endured this nuisance for many years thinking it was a normal sequela of their operation. Multiple physicians had failed to identify the problem.

Lactosyl ceramidosis: normal activity for two lactosyl ceramide beta-galactosidases

Lactosyl ceramide beta-galactosidase activities in the fibroblasts from the previously described patient with so-called "lactosyl ceramidosis" were reexamined with the two recently developed assay methods which appear to measure two genetically distinct enzymes that can degrade this substrate. No deficiency of either of the lactosyl ceramide-cleaving enzymes was observed. In addition, sphingomyelinase activity was only one-sixth of normal, while all other enzymes examined were within the normal ranges.