[From molecular genetics to functional genomic and physiome]. / De la genetica moleculara la genomica functionala si fiziom.

After a brief overview on the advances in the molecular genetics knowledge the paper present new concepts of functional genomics and physiom. First, the results of a group of cell and molecular biology researchers in the filed of genic expression of biologic active endogenous substances, ion receptors and channels are discussed, underlining their influence on actual genomic trend of physiological sciences. Discussions continues on theoretical basis of gene therapy and in the end are presented the researches that made the transition from functional genom to the integrative concepts of physiom, cardiom and proteom, fulfilling the content of the classical notion of normal and pathologic physiology.

[Implications of oxidative stress in senescence]. / Implicatii ale stresului oxidativ în senescenta.

After a short review of the literature concerning the paradox of oxygen and the participation of the oxidative stress created by the prevalence of its reactive radical species over the antioxidant enzymes, the main experimental arguments favoring the hypothesis of the implication of free radicals in senescence will be exposed. The amplification of degrading processes of lipid peroxidation and altering of the protein thiol groups in the presence of reactive oxygen species will be outlined. Both the aging of mitochondria due to the alteration of the electron transport chain and the oxidative attack on the mitochondrial DNA and the activation of the apoptosis as programmed cell death phenomenon in the presence of free radicals of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon will be given a particular interest. Finally, the implication of radical species in the production of some cardiovascular degenerative diseases of elderly patients will be discussed, together with the protective role of antioxidant compounds and diet, as factors that confine the progressive degradation of the senescent human body.

Psychopathological relationships in depressive illness.

The evolution of the clinical concepts regarding depressive syndromes underlines the need for correlating the epidemiological, clinical and etiopathogenic data for elaborating the classification, quantification and psychopathologic assessment systems. The psychological investigation, complementary to clinical examination and adapted to patient's subjective condition, requires an improvement of its methods in view of bringing more information necessary for stating the differential psychodiagnosis and for a proper psychotherapy. The analysis of motivations and the psychopathologic relationships in the depressive states render evident the factorial complexity and the need of a clinical, psychological, genetic, biochemical, experimental and therapeutic approach. Thus, a bio-medical and psychotherapeutic approach will improve the clinical research and psychopathologic assessment. The psychodiagnosis and psychotherapy, as elements of clinical care, make possible the clearing up of the therapeutic possibilities in the complex approach of personality, promoting the psychoprotective comprehension and the state of mental health.

[Biological markers in the precise diagnosis of chronic alcoholic intoxication--the significance of blood changes]. / Markeri biologici în precizarea diagnosticului intoxicatiilor etilice cronice--semnificatia unor perturbari sanguine.

The frequency of some blood disturbances during chronic alcoholism determined us to extend the biological investigations of alcohol abuse effects on blood figurated elements and hemostasis. The investigation of some series of alcohol addicts revealed clear-cut differences, directly proportional with the quantity and length of intoxication. The obtained results certify a disordered hemostasis, insufficiently elucidated as a possible biological cause of alcoholic states, manifested by alterations of some humoral elements in various forms of chronic alcoholism with mental disturbances.

[Relational aspects in alcoholism]. / Aspecte relationale în alcoolism.

Alcohol addiction is always preceded by alcohol abuse, even in the absence of risk factors. The finding of some models relevant for alcohol addiction make possible the description of different etiological patterns, proving the importance of researches on alcoholism etiology for a correct diagnosis and treatment.

[Biological markers in the accurate diagnosis of chronic alcohol intoxication--the significance of metabolic disorders (I)]. / Markeri biologici în precizarea diagnosticului intoxicatiilor etilice cronice--semnificatia unor perturbari metabolice (I).

Continuing the series of papers dedicated to determining some objective markers for chronic alcohol poisonings, this time we insist on the significance of metabolic disturbances in the series under study. The hepatic changes are useful in the diagnosis, in determining the consequences and in following up the therapeutical management. The study was based on the marked alterations in the lipid and protein metabolisms, these alterations being strongly connected with ethanol metabolization stages.

[Trends in the classification of depressive states]. / Orientari privind clasificarea starilor depresive.

The evolution of the clinical concept of depression from the viewpoint of actual epidemiological data and classification systems is presented. The classification difficulties, due to the reference criteria and absence of some concordant data, which lead to the elaboration of some systematizations prevalently syndromic, are revealed. The uncertainty of the nosological framing of the depressive states is reflected in the diagnostic disagreements of the various doctrinaire orientations in psychiatry. Starting from the Kraepelinian nosological conception, the revision of the dichotomy endogenic-psychogenic or the systematization in primary and secondary depressions, the I.N.S.E.R.M., I.C.D. 9 and I.C.D.-10 (WHO), D.S.M. III and D.S.M.III-R classification are discussed.

[Biological markers in the accurate diagnosis of chronic alcohol intoxication--the significance of immunoglobulin A]. / Markeri biologici în precizarea diagnosticului intoxicatiilor etilice cronice--semnificatia imunoglobulinei A.

This paper is part of a study aiming to identifying some objective clinical and laboratory markers for the late diagnosis of chronic ethylism, often after the somatic affections and mental disturbances have occurred, fact requiring further investigations for the early and doubtless determination of alcohol even after variable withdrawal periods. The significance of IgA as a marker is similar to that of gamma GT, demonstrating that in time and at doses in excess alcohol can lead to increased serum IgA concentrations, proved by the IgA deposits in the liver detected immunohistologically, values that could be diagnostic. It seems the IgA as a marker is not superior to gamma GT, its diagnostic relevance being partially restricted by it also being influenced directly by the severity of the histopathologic changes.

[The dynamics of ethanol metabolism in patients with chronic alcoholism]. / Dinamica metabolizarii etanolului, referinte cazuistice la bolnavii cu etilism cronic.

The results of the investigations carried out in alcoholics and nonalcoholics regarding certain aspects of ethanol metabolism are presented. The marked interindividual differences in alcohol blood levels and intergroup differences in acetaldehyde levels, through a projection in dynamic process, are commented upon. The programmed ethanolic load induced changes in blood alcohol, within comparable limits, irrespective of subjects' state. At all intervals of postintake determinations, the acetaldehyde concentrations were higher in the alcoholic subjects. No dose-effect relation between the involved elements (ethanol metabolite) was found.

[Biological markers in the accurate diagnosis of chronic alcohol intoxication. The significance of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase]. / Markeri biologici în precizarea diagnosticului intoxicatiilor etilice cronice. Semnificatia gama glutamiltranspeptidazei.

The late diagnosis of severe alcoholism--often after the onset of somatic complaints and the appearance of psychic disorders needs extensive research able to identify new objective clinical and paraclinical markers to allow early and accurate identification of alcoholism also after various periods of abstinence. The scores obtained are the consequence of alcohol abuse and not of nutritional deficiencies or some other associated visceral-humoral sufferings. The authors underline the significance of gamma-GTP in assessing early severe alcoholism state and the necessity and importance of finding certain specific biological markers--early and sensitive for etillic intoxication--that would considerably simplify the manner of diagnosis and an efficient therapy. The identification of certain significant and specific markers before the onset of visceral-humoral disorders would improve the psychoprotective measures before the onset of tolerance and withdrawal--determinant factors of severe etillic intoxication.

[Standardized scale instruments for evaluating the relational meanings of motivation, pathogenesis and care in alcoholism]. / Instrumente scalare standardizate pentru evaluarea semnificatiilor relationale în motivatia, patogenia si asistenta alcoolismului.

The authors give synthesis of five scale methods for alcoholism (Alcoholism Severity Scale, Mac Andrew Scale, Bell Alcoholism Scale of Adjustment, Manson Evaluation and Iowa Alcoholic Intake Schedule), four scale means of the type of Psychological tests (Alcadd Test, Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test, Mortimer-Filkins Test and Essential Reactive Alcoholism Dimension) and three procedures of the type of personality inventory and questionnaire (Drinking Behaviour Interview, Alcoholism Assessment Interview and Alcoholism Use Questionnaire) tools that were at the basis of the construction of a "Scale of Estimating Medical Implications in Alcoholism" conceived experimented and validated in the psychiatric clinic of Iasi.

[The significance of psychopathologic reactions and developments in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis]. / Semnificatia unor reactii si dezvoltari psihopatologice la bolnavii cu tuberculoza pulmonara.

Some psychopathological aspects occurring in the evolution of tuberculosis and the management of the mental patients with confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis are presented and commented upon. The analysis is based on the 20-year experience of a psychiatric unit specialized in attending such patients. The importance of a close cooperation phthisiologist-psychiatrist in individualizing the therapy choice of psychotropic and tuberculostatic drugs and avoidance of their possible incompatibilities is underlined. Given the mobility of the mental patients in the actual mental health care system and the development of some psychobehavioral risks, such as cooperation is also necessary in the prophylactic and rehabilitation programmes as part of populational health care delivery.

[The treatment of depressive states with opipramol (Insidon--Geigy)]. / Observatii privind tratamentul starilor depresive cu opipramol (Insidon--Geigy).

The authors analyse the findings of a clinical simple-blind trial of the drug Insidon--Geigy in depressive states. This drug was administered in monotherapy for 28 days in average doses of 150 mg daily in a series of 20 inpatients of both sexes and aged 20-60 years, diagnosed with neurotic depressive state. The efficiency of the treatment and its tolerance were estimated on a special Ciba-Geigy Pharma International investigation card through clinical observation, scoring of clinical items, psychological check-up and Hamilton's scale for depression at 0-7-14-21 and 28 days, paraclinical investigations, computer processing (TIM-S) on the basis of a program (in BETA BASIC language in 3.1 version) necessary for determining the polynomial functions for the significant items of the psychopathological syndrome (anxiety, depression, insomnia). The corroboration of the data of clinical and paraclinical observations with the psychologic examination and the computer-processed data reveals the clinical efficacy of Insidon--Geigy in neurotic depression, its good tolerance and low incidence of side effects.

[Comparative clinico-therapeutic study of amitriptyline hydrochloride (Tryptizol/amitriptyline)]. / Studiu comparativ clinico-terapeutic asupra clorhidratului de amitriptilina (Tryptizol/amitriptilina).

As compared to the psychopharmacological profile of amitriptyline hydrochloride the authors analyse the findings of a comparative clinical trial amitriptyline versus Tryptizol regarding their efficacy in neurotic and presenile depression. 170 inpatients divided into four comparative series were investigated. The drugs were administered according to the same scheme in monotherapy for 30 days. The efficiency and tolerance of these drugs were estimated through clinical observations, the recording of the first ameliorated state and the maximum one, psychological check-up by using Hamilton's scale for depressions, paraclinical investigation, recording of side effects, clinical and paraclinical screening for 0-10-20-30 days. The analysis of clinical findings in the investigated series reveals for both drugs their easy administration, tolerance, incidence and low intensity of the side effects. The comparative estimation of the treatment with amitriptyline and Tryptizol in neurotic and presenile depressions attests a similar therapeutic efficiency.