Episode sensitization

Fig. 7.2 (a) The prototypical time course of disease episodes in affective disorders (modified after [18]). Disease episodes are initially related to external stressors with increasing strength of the episodes (kindling) which then leads to autonomous progression (episode sensitization) with periodically occurring disease episode of increasing frequency up to ultra-rapid, chaotic mood fluctuations, (b) Analogous activity pattern of... 

Computer Simulations of Episode Sensitization with Autonomous Disease Progression... 

While the above simulations describe how the disease pattern vary as a function of the disease state, the following simulations show that our model can also account for kindling phenomena and autonomous progression. This needs some model extensions which were made in reference to the above-mentioned assumption of episode sensitization which are assumed to be due to residues (memory traces) of previous disease episodes. For simplicity, and because the real mechanisms are unknown, we introduced an additional, positive feedback loop which is implemented exactly in the same way as the other feedback variables [4—7, 25]. The model now also includes a dynamic disease variable Sp (Fig. 7.4a). The specialities are that it only activates when a disease episode occurs (episode sensitization) and that it has long relaxation times (memory trace). 

J.C. On episode sensitization in recurrent affective disorders the role of noise. Neuropsychopharmacology 2003, 28[Suppl 1] S13—S20. 

Chronic TTH syndromes may evolve from recurrent episodic headaches as central nociception becomes sensitized.15... 

This relationship has been predicted by the stellar evolution theory, as resulting essentially from the so called first and second dredge-up episodes. In Fig. la we see the corresponding predictions by the theory (Marigo, 2001). The sensitivity of the predicted abundances both to the metallicity at the epoch of formation of the progenitors and to their stellar mass in the Main Sequence is evident, making such diagrams powerful tools to trace back the evolutionary history of individual PNe. Uncertainties prevent however us to pursue now this... 

Tissue culture is the most specific (100%) and sensitive method (80% to 90%) of confirming the diagnosis of first-episode genital herpes. 

Migraine headache is characterized by recurring episodes of throbbing head pain, frequently unilateral. Migraine headaches can be severe and associated with nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, sound, and/or movement. 

Recurrences of mood episodes causes behavioral sensitivity and electrophysiologic kindling (similar to the amygdala-kindling models for seizures in animals) and can result in rapid or continuous mood cycling. 

Nunemaker CS, De Fazio RA, Moenter SM (2002) Estradiol-sensitive afferents modulate long-term episodic firing patterns of GnRH neurons. Endocrinology 143 2284-2292... 

Schelegle, E.S., et al., Repeated episodes of ozone inhalation amplifies the effects of allergen sensitization and inhalation on airway immune and structural development in Rhesus monkeys, Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 191, 74, 2003. 

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