Biomedical subjects
A Prasad
Publications and source records attributed to A Prasad.
Altered amount and activity of superoxide dismutase in sickle cell anemia.
The amount and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (EC 1.15.1.1) were measured in red cells collected from 50 white controls, 101 black controls, 50 patients with sickle hemoglobin (SS Hb), 12 with sickle trait, and 11 with other sickling hemoglobinopathies. Red cells from normal black subjects had more SOD amount and activity than normal whites (1.77 U/mg Hb and 2.96 micrograms/mg Hb vs. 1.47 U/mg Hb and 2.64 micrograms/mg Hb, respectively) or blacks with SS Hb or other sickling hemoglobinopathies. Patients with more severe manifestations of SS Hb had lower levels of SOD activity than those with milder symptoms but had the same amount of enzyme protein. Individuals with sickle trait had amounts and activities of SOD comparable to black controls. An alteration in defense to free radical oxygen may play a role in the severity of symptoms experienced by patients with homozygous sickle cell disease.
Enhanced pressor sensitivity to oral tyramine challenge following high dose selegiline treatment.
Blood pressure and heart rate responses to oral tyramine have been measured in healthy volunteers before and after administration of the selective monoamine oxidase B inhibitor selegiline at high dosage (30 mg/day). Treatment brought about a 2 to 4-fold increase in tyramine sensitivity and a concomitant small but significant reduction in plasma 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylglycol concentration, pointing to the emergence of some degree of monoamine oxidase A inhibition. It is suggested that patients treated with selegiline 30 mg/day or more should be placed on a tyramine-free diet.
Psychiatric morbidity and platelet monoamine oxidase activity in cancer patients.
Psychometric ratings for both anxiety and depression in 30 cancer patients were significantly elevated compared with values in 16 controls. The scores were especially high in the 14 patients who did not have breast cancer. This group also had significantly greater platelet monoamine oxidase activity than either the breast cancer patients or controls. Platelet monoamine oxidase activity values correlated significantly with both depression and anxiety scores in the whole cancer group.
The treatment of Wilson's disease with zinc. IV. Efficacy monitoring using urine and plasma copper.
Progress has been made in establishing the efficacy and safety of oral zinc as a maintenance therapy for Wilson's disease. It is important to develop simple, noninvasive monitoring methods to assure the adequacy of zinc therapy in individual patients. In this paper we report the use of 24-hr urine copper and plasma copper measurements to monitor efficacy of zinc maintenance therapy in 30 Wilson's disease patients. In examples of therapeutic inadequacy such as noncompliance, these values increase. With continued long-term adequate therapy, they remain stable or decrease. These two simple monitoring tools appear to be very useful in monitoring Wilson's disease patients receiving zinc therapy.
Plasma prolactin concentrations following genuine and hysterical seizures.
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Efficacy of trazodone as an anti-obsessional agent.
Eight patients with chronic obsessive-compulsive neurosis were subjected to trazodone, an antidepressant acting on the serotonergic system. After 4 weeks of treatment, 6 showed significant reduction in the obsessional symptoms which was sustained after a 6-week follow-up. The 2 patients who did not show improvement had a significantly higher trait score than the others on psychometric ratings.
Interrelationships between zinc and immune function.
Zinc deficiency is a common nutritional problem observed both in human and in animal populations that has profound effects on host defense mechanisms. Using the young adult mouse as a model, it has been demonstrated that a moderate period of suboptimal zinc causes thymic atrophy, lymphopenia, and alterations in the proportions of the various subsets of lymphocytes and mononuclear phagocytes. As a result, antibody-mediated responses to both T cell-dependent and T cell independent antigens are significantly reduced. Cytolytic T cell responses, natural killer (NK) cell activity, and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions are also depressed. Suboptimal zinc during in utero development of mice causes persistent states of immunodeficiency in the offspring that can even be transferred to subsequent generations. In regard to human immunological consequences of zinc deficiency, patients with the genetic disorder of zinc absorption, acrodermatitis enteropathica, also exhibit atrophic thymuses, lymphopenia, anergic DTH responses, and reduced NK cell activity. Patients suffering from sickle cell anemia or uremia with associated deficiencies in zinc exhibit similar immune deficiencies. An additional outcome of these studies has been shown to be an essential cofactor for thymulin, one of the thymic hormones. Furthermore, addition of zinc salts to culture can polyclonally activate lymphocytes as well as augment responses to mitogens in adjuvant-like manner.
Effect of feeding induced milk on body growth of immature mice.
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Positron tomography of a radio-brominated analog of the D1/DA1 antagonist, SCH 23390.
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Efficacy of trazodone as an anti obsessional agent.
Eight patients with chronic Obsessive-Compulsive Neurosis were subjected to Trazodone, an antidepressant acting on the serotinergic system. After 4 weeks of treatment, 6 showed significant reduction in the obsessional symptoms which was sustained after a 6-week follow-up. The 2 patients who did not show improvement had a significantly higher trait score than the others on psychometric ratings.
Munchausen's syndrome: an annotation.
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Multiple personality syndrome.
Multiple personality syndrome is one of the most fascinating conditions encountered in psychiatric practice. Although its existence has been known for nearly two centuries, there is a relative sparcity of literature on this condition and its importance is underemphasized in psychiatric training. My theory is that this is a far more common condition than has been hitherto realized and the lack of case reports is largely a manifestation of the lack of awareness of diagnostic criteria.
Chronic lithium intake and hyperparathyroidism.
Two cases of patients on long-term lithium therapy are reported who developed hyperparathyroidism. The onset of this coincided with the appearance of severe depressive symptoms which had previously been under control.
A double blind study of imipramine versus zimelidine in treatment of obsessive compulsive neurosis.
Six patients suffering from obsessive compulsive neurosis were randomly allocated into two groups of three patients each and commenced on either imipramine, a noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitor, or zimelidine, a serotonin re-uptake inhibitor. After 4 weeks, the group on zimelidine showed significant reduction of obsessional symptoms as compared to the other group. The response was rapid and sustained over a period of two months.
Plasma prolactin concentrations in true and hysterical seizures.
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Attempted suicide by jumping.
A series of 18 patients who attempted suicide by jumping is reported. All were diagnosed as being psychiatrically ill and 14 received psychiatric treatment after the episode. These patients differ in several important aspects from those who harm themselves by drug-overdose.
Brazing nonprecious alloys properly, professionally and perfectly.
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