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Biomedical subjects

A Levin

Publications and source records attributed to A Levin.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

The effects of cimetidine and ranitidine on psychomotor function in healthy volunteers.

Single oral doses of cimetidine (400 mg), ranitidine (150 mg), promethazine (25 mg) or placebo were administered to 8 healthy volunteers in a double-blind study. Cimetidine and ranitidine did not cause any significant change in critical flicker frequency (c.f.f.), reaction time, pursuit rotor of the visual analogue scale scores for sedation. Promethazine significantly lowered c.f.f., prolonged reaction time and increased sedation when compared with placebo. It is concluded that in this study cimetidine and ranitidine had little, if any, effect on psychomotor function.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

A psychological profile of women selected for augmentation mammaplasty.

Augmentation mammaplasty (AM) is a cosmetic surgical procedure increasingly being sought by women preoccupied with the size of their breasts. There is a divergence of opinion as to the reasons for and the morbidity associated with this. The present study attempts to clarify the reasons for requests for AM and to determine the presence of psychopathology in patients selected for this procedure compared with hospital controls. It was found that these patients generally experienced low self-esteem, depression, self-consciousness and anxiety, and had a poor body-image and psychosexual problems. AM was often sought to alleviate marital, psychosexual and interpersonal problems.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Mianserin and clomipramine in the treatment of depression.

Forty-two patients aged between 19 and 70 years (30 women and 12 men) suffering from primary unipolar depression were randomly selected and treated under double-blind conditions with either mianserin (Lantanon; Organon) or clomipramine (Anafranil; Ciba-Geigy) after an initial wash-out period. Patients on all other medication, including benzodiazepines, were excluded from the study. The severity of depression was assessed on day 0 and after 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 weeks' treatment. There were no significant pretrial differences between the groups in respect of severity of depression, age, sex or previous psychiatric history. During the 1st week of treatment all subjects received either mianserin 30 mg or clomipramine 75 mg once daily. From the 2nd week onwards the dose was doubled. Thirty patients completed the trial, 16 on mianserin and 14 on clomipramine. The improvement on both treatments was marked, favouring mianserin but only reaching significance in the 5th week. Side-effects, especially tremor, tachycardia, dystonia, dizziness, excitement, nasal congestion and dry mouth, were significantly more common in the group using clomipramine. This study confirms reports that mianserin is an effective antidepressant which is better tolerated and produces fewer side-effects (especially anticholinergic) than comparable tricyclic antidepressants such as clomipramine.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Psychotherapeutic management of good and poor compliance in patients on haemodialysis.

Numerous studies have been published on the psychobiological factors which either facilitate or impede a patient's adaptation to haemodialysis. These studies have tended to group all dialysands together, and the psychological heterogeneity of dialysands has not always been adequately recognized. Recent research has assisted in identifying certain homogeneous subgroups. With this information it appears possible to formulate a more rational approach to psychotherapeutic intervention and management. This paper deals with some of the psychological factors involved in the differential management of stress in in-centre patients on ongoing haemodialysis, i.e. differentiation between those who comply and those who do not and the reflection of this in psychotherapeutic management.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Nomifensine and maprotiline in endogenous depression: comparative efficacy and side effects.

50 patients suffering from endogenous depression were admitted to a double-blind study comparing the efficacy of nomifensine and maprotiline and the side effects associated with treatment. A total of 28 patients, 14 on nomifensine and 14 on maprotiline completed the study. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by means of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression before administering the drugs and on days 7, 14, 21 and 28. Also noted if present was the day on which marked improvement was reported. At each assessment period incidence and severity of side effects were registered. On the basis of this study, nomifensine and maprotiline were both found clinically to have marked antidepressant action. The difference in response did not reach statistical significance, although there was a trend towards better improvement on nomifensine at the end of the 1st and 4th weeks. There was a rapid onset of action with both compounds. Significantly more severe side effects developed in those patients treated with maprotiline compared to those treated with nomifensine.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Rebound phenomenon.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1981

The role of intelligence and depression in Indian and black duodenal ulcer patients in South Africa.

In a comparison of South African Indian and Black duodenal ulcer patients and a control group of hospital patients, intelligence and depression were not found to be relevant to the incidence of duodenal ulceration. This finding emerges as part of an ongoing study on the apparent increase of duodenal ulceration in South African Indians and Blacks. The role of psychological medicine in a consultation/liaison service is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Psychosituational factors and duodenal ulceration in South African blacks and Indians.

Forty-one patients with endoscopically confirmed recent duodenal ulceration and 38 controls were studied by a multidisciplinary team. Results indicated that the development of duodenal ulceration may be promoted by stressful situations (71%), especially those which are work-related, avoidance-avoidance conflict (56%), and a compliant personality (51%). Denial was employed by 32%. On the basis of these psychosituational findings a hypothesis for the pathogenesis of duodenal ulceration has been postulated.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1981

Admissions to a South African general hospital psychiatric unit.

In a study of admissions to the psychiatric unit of a general hospital from December 1, 1977, to November 30, 1978, data obtained from all 478 admitted patients were analyzed; the most prevalent condition was found to be neuroses, followed by organic brain syndromes. Most patients admitted fell into the 19--39 age groups, with a preponderance of male admissions between the ages of 6--39, but more admissions of females above 40. A significant difference in the occurrence of conditions between the sexes was noted: the most prevalent condition for males between the ages of 6--39 years was schizophrenia, while more females suffered from the neuroses. Males 40 years and older presented predominantly with organic brain syndromes; females in that age group presented predominantly with affective psychoses. The average length of stay for both sexes was eight days. Schizophrenia required the longest hospital stay, an average of 11 days. Seventy-eight patients (16.3%) were admitted more than once during the period of study. Conditions commonly associated with readmission were affective psychoses and schizophrenia. The role of the general hospital psychiatric unit and its advantages and shortcomings are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Antibodies reactive with murine mammary tumor virus in sera of patients with breast cancer: geographic and family studies.

Sera of patients with breast cancer, of healthy women from the United States, East India, East Africa, and China, and of healthy women of American and Parsi families in which breast cancer occurred in several family members were assayed for levels of antibody reactive with the murine mammary tumor virus (MuMTV) by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Increased levels of antibody to MuMTV (absorbance greater than or equal to 0.4) were found in sera of 18.6% of American patients with breast cancer and of 2.8% of healthy American women and in 38% of patients from India and 61.9% from East Africa (healthy, 26.9%). In contrast, antibody reactive with MuMTV was found in less than 5 of women with breast cancer from mainland China (healthy Chinese, 5.0%). Differences in serum MuMTV antibody levels between breast cancer patients in the four groups were found to be significant (P less than 0.0001). Studies of two families from the United States and of one Parsi family from India with genetic propensity to breast cancer showed that high levels of antibody to MuMTV were found in 33%, 71%, and 23% of healthy family members, respectively. The antibody to MuMTV was readily absorbed with purified MuMTV and gp52. In contrast, fetal calf serum, murine type c retroviruses, or erythrocytes from various species failed to absorb the antibody.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Histologic examination of the bone marrow: aspiration or trephine?

We undertook this study to evaluate the efficacy of bone marrow aspiration as compared with trephine needle biopsy. In the 50 consecutive cases reviewed, simultaneous aspiration and biopsy yielded significant morphologic findings in either or both. A comparison was made between the morphologic findings in the aspirate and the corresponding biopsy, with quantification of these findings when feasible. The aspiration technic and method for processing used differ significantly from the so-called clot preparation currently in widespread use. For coring the marrow, a regular (adult) 11 gauge Jamshidi needle was used. More lymphoid nodules, nodular lymphoid hyperplasia, and lipid granulomas were found in the aspirate.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1980

A current study of parasuicide in Durban.

Between 1 January and 31 December 1978, there were 723 episodes of overdosage, poisoning, self-inflicted injury and other possible manifestations of parasuicide reported by the casualty and trauma units of Addington Hospital, Durban. The Department of Psychiatry at this hospital attended to 310 of the patients involved. The study represents an analysis of their characteristics, which might indicate those at greatest risk of parasuicide. Some of the more relevant findings include the following: women predominated, those most at risk were in the age group 20--29 years, and single people were more at risk. The most common method of parasuicide was the ingestion of benzodiazepines and analgesics. A seasonal fluctuation was noted with a referral peak during the summer months, viz. December--February. Transient situational disturbances, reactive depression and conduct disorders in adolescents were the most prevalent psychiatric diagnoses.

Adjustment Disorders↗