Biomedical subjects

R Kamil

Publications and source records attributed to R Kamil.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

Do depressed subjects who have failed both fluoxetine and a tricyclic antidepressant respond to the combination?

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence suggests that the combination of fluoxetine and desipramine may provide a rapid and effective treatment for depression. METHOD: The current study evaluated 13 subjects with DSM-III-R nonpsychotic major depression who had previously failed either desipramine or imipramine and who were currently unsuccessfully treated with fluoxetine. Desipramine or imipramine was added to fluoxetine and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) scores, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores, and plasma tricyclic levels were monitored for 3 weeks. RESULTS: Of the 13 subjects, 7 (54%) had a greater than 40% decline in HAM-D scores and 4 of these (31%) had 50% or greater decline in HAM-D. At week 3, responders (767 +/- 282 nmol/L) had a significantly higher mean tricyclic level as compared with nonresponders (515 +/- 95 nmol/L, F = 25.1, p < .0001), and change in BDI scores was significantly correlated with tricyclic level (r = -0.60, p < .05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that in some subjects the positive clinical effect of combining fluoxetine and a tricyclic antidepressant may be related to the plasma levels of the tricyclic compound.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

The hypolipidaemic effect of gum tragacanth in diet induced hyperlipidaemia in rats.

Previous research indicated that fiber in the diet of men lowers plasma lipid and LDL cholesterol concentration. To further study the lipid lowering effect of fibre, we conducted an animal study using rats with diet induced hyperlipidaemia. Rats were randomly assigned to one of the three experimental diets. Two of the diets contained cholesterol and choice acid to induce hyperlipidaemia, the fiber source in the hyperlipidaemic diet was gum tragacanth (5%). The rats consumed one of the three diets ad libitum for 4 weeks before they were killed. Plasma LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher in the hyperlipidaemic group than in the non hyperlipidaemic control group. A marked improvement in the plasma LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol concentration was observed in the rats that were fed hyperlipidaemic diet containing grum tragacanth. No significant difference in the plasma triglyceride concentration was detected in the three groups. Plasma HDL concentration was significantly higher in the non-hyperlipidaemic group than in the hyperlipidaemic group than. Addition of gum tragacanth to the hyperlipidaemic diet significantly improved the plasma HDL concentration in the hyperlipidaemic rats. These results suggest that fiber from gum tragacanth lowers plasma cholesterol and LDL in hyperlipidaemia. Gum tragacanth could be useful adjunct to the dietary management of hyperlipidaemia.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1992

Atypical affective disorder with episodic dyscontrol: a case of von Economo's disease (encephalitis lethargica).

The case is described of a patient with atypical affective disorder, episodic behavioural dyscontrol and parkinsonism resulting from presumed encephalitis lethargica. EEG abnormalities were found which were compatible with a post-encephalitic state and suggestive of epileptiform complications. Poor or deleterious response to neuroleptics, sleep disorder, and parkinsonism are features that may allow recognition of this illness in a psychiatric setting.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Neuroendocrine testing in electroconvulsive therapy.

Dysregulation of specific neuroendocrine axes is seen frequently in patients with depressive disorder. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) causes both acute and chronic changes in numerous neuroendocrine parameters. The measurement of serum and cerebrospinal levels of hormones as well as the development of specific challenge tests have allowed the identification of potential state-specific markers for depression. These markers offer the potential for predicting both outcomes of treatment with ECT and long-term prognosis.

Electroconvulsive Therapy↗

PubMed1983

Neuronal elements in snail tentacles as revealed by horseradish peroxidase backfilling.

The snail tentacle ganglion is a prominent structure that innervates an epithelial pad sensitive to wind and odors. Its neural composition, and that of the sensory pad, was studied in the terrestrial snail Achatina fulica by applying horseradish peroxidase to the distal end of the cut tentactle nerve. Five types of neurons were labelled by the procedure: receptors, located in the subepithelial region; three kinds of interneurons, located in the ganglion and its digitlike extensions; and a bipolar neuron, located in the dermo-muscular wall of the tentacle. In contrast to earlier descriptions based on silver stains, the present results demonstrate the presence of neurons of large size (soma diameters up to 46 microns). Also, contrary to earlier interpretations, the results indicate that all five identified cell types send axons directly to the CNS.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

Morphology and odor sensitivity of regenerated snail tentacles.

This study examined certain structural and functional aspects of the olfactory system in regenerated posterior tentacles of the terrestrial snail Achatina fulica. Regeneration of the epithelial sensory pad occurs with accurate size regulation. All five neuronal cell types which are normally revealed by horseradish peroxidase backfilling are also regenerated. The sensory cells attain normal numbers at about 20 weeks postlesion. The organization of neuronal elements within the tentacle is chaotic, however, at early stages of regeneration. Even later, the digitlike extensions of the ganglion, which are characteristic of intact tentacles, fail to appear. The recovery of odor sensitivity was evaluated using a tentacular olfactormeter and a behavioral assay that involved locomotor orientation towards the odor stimulus. Thresholds and concentration-dependent response rates were equivalent for regenerated and intact tentacles, tested in the same animals, at 10 weeks post-lesion.

Animals↗