The behavioral high-risk paradigm and bipolar affective disorder, VIII: Serum free cortisol in nonpatient cyclothymic subjects selected by the General Behavior Inventory.

The degree of biologic concordance between bipolar affective disorder and cyclothymia was assessed within a 3-hour protocol of cortisol functioning. Cyclothymic subjects, selected by the General Behavior Inventory, showed cortisol hypersecretion approaching that of subjects with major affective disorders; they also showed poor modulation of cortisol levels over time, the degree of which was related to increased current level of depression and to a chronic, intermittent depressive course. These results not only support the validity of the General Behavior Inventory but also suggest that cyclothymic subjects with a chronic depressive course may experience persistent biologic disturbance similar to that found during episodes of major depression.

Effects of oral pH on cigarette smoking.

Permeability of nicotine across the oral mucosa had been shown to be a direct linear function of alkalinity in the oral cavity. Here, oral pH in cigarette smokers was manipulated from pH 5 to 8 by rinses with Sorenson's and McIlvaine's buffers. As a alkalinity increased, cigarette taste was perceived as stronger, more bitter, and, in some cases, more upleasant; and heart-rate accelerated slightly. Nicotine self-administration and blood pressure were not influenced. Differential absorption of nicotine and cross-adaptation of sour to bitter taste are both discussed as explanations for the results.