Postural abnormalities

Parkinson s disease is characterized by tremor at rest, rigidity, hypokinesia, and postural abnormality. The 4- to 6-Hz tremor of parkinsonism is characteristically most conspicuous at rest it increases at times of emotional stress and often improves during voluntary activity. It commonly begins in... 

In addition, postural abnormalities are observed resulting from spondylitis deformans of the thoracic or cervical spine, with kyphosis and kyphoscoliosis. Other patients exhibit pes cavus deformities, hallux valgus, or hammer toes. 

The most common adverse reactions seen with pramipexole and ropinirole include nausea, dizziness, postural hypotension, hallucinations, somnolence, vomiting, confusion, visual disturbances, abnormal involuntary movements, and headache... 

Among the most significant adverse reactions associated with the antipsychotic dm are the extrapyramidal effects. The term extrapyramidal effects refers to a group of adverse reactions occurring on the extrapyramidal portion of the nervous system as a result of antipsychotic drains. This part of the nervous system affects body posture and promotes smooth and uninterrupted movement of various muscle groups. Antipsychotics disturb the function of the extrapyramidal portion of the nervous system, causing abnormal muscle movement. Extrapyramidal effects include Parkinson-like symptoms (see Chap. 29), akathisia, and dystonia (see Display 32-1). 

A = Akinesia or bradykinesia P = Postural instability and gate abnormalities... 

Asterixis Abnormal posture and movements that may occur in advanced liver disease and a few other circumstances. 

Dystonia is characterized by sustained muscle contractions. In patients with dystonia, normal movements are disrupted by cocontraction of agonist and antagonist muscles, and by excessive activation of inappropriate musculature (overflow), leading to abnormal postures and slow involuntary twisting movements, which are often associated with movement execution. 

Mortality 100% by day 6. Dying birds showed decreased respiration, squatting, fluffed feathers, and abnormal head posture. Mean residues (mg/kg fresh weight) were 6.0 in bone, 7.3 in brain, 19.9 in kidney, 20.0 in muscle, and 40.2 in liver No deaths, reduced food consumption. All tissue residues <2.0 mg/kg fresh weight (vs. <0.1 in controls)... 

Free tryptophan is transported into the brain and nerve terminal by an active transport system which it shares with tyrosine and a number of other essential amino acids. On entering the nerve terminal, tryptophan is hydroxylated by tryptophan hydroxylase, which is the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of 5-HT. Tryptophan hydroxylase is not bound in the nerve terminal and optimal activity of the enzyme is only achieved in the presence of molecular oxygen and a pteridine cofactor. Unlike tyrosine hydroxylase, tryptophan hydroxylase is not usually saturated by its substrate. This implies that if the brain concentration rises then the rate of 5-HT synthesis will also increase. Conversely, the rate of 5-HT synthesis will decrease following the administration of experimental drugs such as para-chlorophenylalanine, a synthetic amino acid which irreversibly inhibits the enzyme. Para-chloramphetamine also inhibits the activity of this enzyme, but this experimental drug also increases 5-HT release and delays its reuptake thereby leading to the appearance of the so-called "serotonin syndrome", which in animals is associated with abnormal movements, body posture and temperature. 

A). Mice react to morphine with excitation, evident in the form of an abnormal posture of the tail and limbs. The dose dependence of this phenomenon is observed in groups of animals (e.g., 10 mice per group) injected with increasing doses of morphine. At the low dose, only the most sensitive, at increasing doses a growing proportion, at the highest dose all of the animals are affected... 

Adverse reactions occurring in 3% or more of patients include abnormal ejaculation, asthenia, decreased libido, decreased volume of ejaculate, dizziness, impotence, postural hypotension. 

Adverse reactions occurring in at least 3% of patients include abnormal dreams, abnormal vision, asthenia, blurred vision, confusion, constipation, cough, decreased concentration, diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, dyspepsia, flu syndrome, headache, increased appetite, infection, insomnia, lightheadedness, memory impairment, nausea, paresthesia, peripheral edema, pharyngitis, postural hypotension, somnolence, vasodilation. 

Adverse reactions occurring in 3% or more of patients include pain, abdominal pain, injury, accident, headache, asthenia, chest pain, flu syndrome, postural hypotension, vasodilation, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, dyspepsia, anorexia, dry mouth, dyskinesia, dizziness, hallucinations, dystonia, confusion, somnolence, insomnia, anxiety, tremor, depression, rhinitis, dyspnea, rash, abnormal vision, and peripheral edema. 

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