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Biomedical subjects

S H Ahmed

Publications and source records attributed to S H Ahmed.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Corticotropin-releasing factor induces a place aversion independent of its neuroendocrine role.

The purpose of the present experiment was to test the hypothesis that corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), a polypeptide of 41 amino acids, when administered either intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) or subcutaneously (s.c.), has aversive properties in the conditioned place-preference paradigm. Five doses of CRF (0, 0.005, 0.05, 0.5, 5 micrograms) were tested. i.c.v. CRF induced a specific dose-dependent reduction of the amount of time spent in the environment previously paired with the administration of CRF. Furthermore, this CRF-induced place aversion was prevented by pretreatment with alpha-helical-CRF(9-41), a specific CRF antagonist, administered i.c.v. In order to test whether the aversive effects induced by i.c.v. CRF could result from the stimulation of the HPA axis accompanying i.c.v. CRF injection, the reinforcing properties of s.c. CRF were studied using the same dose range. Only the higher s.c. dose was effective in producing a place aversion suggesting that the aversive effects of CRF could not be due solely to the stimulation of the pituitary-adrenocortical system, measured by plasmatic levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone, because the lower doses consistently activate the pituitary-adrenocortical system without producing any behavioral changes. Altogether, these data indicate that the non-neurosecretory CRF neurons may mediate the aversive state occurring during stress.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Assessment of "insight" understanding of mental illness in developing countries.

'Insight', which is an indication of patient's understanding about his/her illness, needs particularly sensitive measures for its assessment. A questionnaire regarding insight, and brief psychosocial profile of the patients was applied to 103 cases. The cases were categorized according to the diagnosis and initial understanding of mental illness and 'insight' by the patients in our culture. The study did not support the popular belief that neurotics have and psychotics do not have insight.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Circulating growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor I, cortisol and free thyroxine in children with schistosomiasis with and without hepatic fibrosis.

Serum insulin, growth hormone (GH), cortisol, free thyroxine (T4) and plasma insulin-like growth factor I(IGF-I) concentrations were measured in 20 children suffering from schistosomiasis as well as 10 healthy age-matched controls. Circulating GH and insulin levels were determined after an intravenous infusion of arginine HCl (10 per cent solution, 0.5 g/kg). Children with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis (n = 10) had heights more than 2 SD below the mean for their age and sex. Their circulating IGF-I, free T4, and cortisol levels were significantly reduced. They had markedly elevated serum insulin concentrations with normal response to arginine infusion. Their basal GH levels were normal with significantly reduced GH response to arginine provocation. Compared to controls, they had significantly lower serum albumin concentrations, prolonged prothrombin time and elevated alanine transferase (ALT) levels. Free T4 and IGF-I concentrations, and GH increments after provocation correlated significantly with the percentile heights of these patients (r = 0.90, 0.70, and 0.83, P less than or equal to 0.001, less than or equal to 0.05 and less than or equal to 0.01 respectively). Their IGF-I levels correlated closely with the prothrombin time and ALT concentrations (r = 0.87 and 0.77, P less than or equal to 0.002 and less than or equal to 0.01, respectively). It is suggested that the depressed circulating IGF-I and free T4 levels in addition to deficient GH reserve may be responsible for stunted stature in patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1991

Early experience with fluoxetine.

A new antidepressant Fluoxetine, a serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, was tried on 26 resistant depressed patients. There were four drop out due to severe side effects. Improvement was noticeable soon after the first week and was maximum within 3 weeks of medication in 14 (63.6%) patients while in 8 (36.4%) patients it was as late as 6-12 weeks. The decline in improvement after three weeks in 7(31.8%) patients, needs attention in future studies. Bradycardia in 2 patients above the age of sixty indicate that the drug should be used with caution in elderly. GIT disturbance, insomnia, anorexia, restlessness and lethargy were common side effects. A well planned double blind study is recommended before its place is assigned in our patient population.

Depressive Disorder↗
PubMed1991

Psychosocial adjustment after renal transplantation.

Renal Transplantation is fairly new in our country and is expected to be the only satisfactory long-term treatment for patients with End Stage Renal Disease. Such treatment offers them a chance for near normal life. Seventeen patients who underwent kidney transplant during 1987-88 at the department of Nephrourology of J.P.M.C. Karachi, were reviewed. The result of ten patients who were assessed for their psychosocial adaptation is presented.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1991

Psychosocial aspects of dialysis and renal transplant.

Keeping in view our socio cultural millieu, the psychological aspects of twenty renal transplants recipients and equal number of patients on dialysis were studied. Socio psychiatric profile in the dialysis and transplanted patients revealed that the frequency of anxiety, depression and hypochondriasis was significantly less (P less than 0.01) in the transplanted group. On Bender Gestalt Scale the transplanted group achieved normal status in significantly higher (P less than 0.05) number compared to the dialysis patients. It was concluded that transplanted patients showed marked improvement in social functioning, psychological symptoms and enduring personality traits compared to patients on maintenance dialysis.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1991

Dubai syndrome in Karachi.

This is an attempt to study the effects of migration of earning member (to Gulf States) on the family, specially children left behind. Twenty five families who sought psychiatric help for one of their members were included. A control group (of non-migrant family) attending the out-patient's department was selected for comparison. The wife and children left behind experienced considerable emotional hardship. Twenty two families (88%) reported statistically significant recent maladjustment in 35 children (30%) as compared to control group of twelve families (48%) in 15 children (10%). Undoubtedly the major brunt is faced by the wives but the damage done to children is much less appreciated. This study identifies the current disturbance but the future effects on the personality of other children could manifest much later.

Child↗
PubMed1991

Alexithymia in Karachi.

Alexithymia is a new term which usually means "no words for mood" and used to describe a disorder where patients have difficulty in expressing feelings in words. Such patients therefore express emotions in somatic terms. We have selected headache as a symptom to test the term Alexithymia. A group of thirty patients with the complaint of persistent headache of more than 6 months duration, without any organic pathology or neurological disease entity was taken. This study concludes that Alexithymic traits are not necessarily more prominent in those having psychophysiological symptoms specially tension headache. It also shows that we should not accept any new concept evolved in West without testing it in our own conditions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Potency disorder among Pathans.

In a working class industrial area of Karachi hundred consecutive Pathans presenting to a family physician with potency disorder were examined. After exclusion of those with structural or drug related conditions, a structured proforma was introduced. Their presentation, associated symptoms and background pointed to masked depression and lack of sex education. Symptoms of anxiety were noticed in 49% and depressive features in 43%. The guilt feelings were reinforced by Hakims and lay literature which stress more on masturbation (79%) and spermatorrhoea (60%) and not extra-marital intercourse (52%) or bestiality (39%).

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Synthesis of some 5-azo(4'-substituted benzene-sulphamoyl)-8-hydroxyquinolines with antidotal and antibacterial activities.

5-Azo(4'-substituted benzenesulphamoyl)-8-hydroxyquinolines(III) have been prepared by coupling of the appropriate p-substituted benzenesulphamoyldiazonium acetates with 8-hydroxyquinoline. The corresponding copper chelates(IV) and iron chelates(V) were also prepared in a 1:2 metal to ligand ratio. Structures of III, IV and V were confirmed by some representative UV, IR, and NMR spectrometry in addition to microanalysis. Antidotal activity of four ligands (IIIa, IIId, IIIf, and IIIi) has been evaluated in mice against the toxicity of lead acetate and copper sulphate. Study revealed that compound IIIf elicited significant antidotal activity against lead and copper poisoning, while IIIi was potent only against lead poisoning. Antibacterial activity of compounds III, IV, and V was also determined in comparison to sulphanilamide against Staph. aureus, Bacill. cereus, and Esch. coli. The test compounds showed variable bacteriostatic activities, and some of them (IIIc, IIId, IIIf, Ve, IIIg, and Vi) are more effective than the reference drug, especially against Bacill. cereus.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Dermatoglyphic alterations associated with acute rheumatic fever in children.

The dermatoglyphic configurations of 78 children with acute rheumatic fever were compared with those of 46 first-degree relatives and 1,310 normal subjects. Of the children with acute rheumatic fever, 75% had an ulnar deviation of the axial triradius. In about 40% of this group, the ulnar deviation was associated with a concomitant distal displacement, which resulted in a significantly higher mean maximal angle atd (P less than .001) and significantly lower mean ab and td ridge counts (P less than .001) relative to normal control values. The palmar dermatoglyphics of patients with acute rheumatic fever were more closely related to the configurations of first-degree relatives than to normal controls. The dermatoglyphic profiles of six patients were nearly identical to those of their first-degree relatives, all of whom had a history of acute rheumatic fever. Presence of abnormal dermatoglyphic profiles in a large proportion of children with acute rheumatic fever supports the hypothesis that certain individuals have a genetic predisposition to this disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1978

Cultural influences on delusion.

The nature and content of delusions were studied among 51 schizophrenic patients. The most common delusions in order of frequency were delusions of persecution, religious, magic, ideas of reference, passivity feelings and grandeur. The beliefs of the head of the family, or his equivalent, did not contribute directly to the content. It was concluded that the general cultural beliefs, rather than the immediate environment, play a dominant role in determining the contents of delusion.

Adolescent↗