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Biomedical subjects

S Abraham

Publications and source records attributed to S Abraham.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Geographical distribution of endomyocardial fibrosis in south Kerala.

BACKGROUND: Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) is a chronic heart disease confined to a few geographically specific locations within 15 degrees of the equator. Several aetiological hypotheses exist, among them filarial infection, eosinophilia, and toxic effect of the monazite element cerium from the soil. This study attempts to find out whether the pattern of distribution of EMF in south Kerala in India is consistent with the geochemical hypothesis. METHODS: From hospital records we identified all patients from south Kerala who had a confirmed diagnosis of EMF during the period 1978-1994. Our controls were patients from the southern districts diagnosed to have rheumatic heart disease (RHD) during the same period. We traced their residence address to the administrative subunit of taluk, and plotted the distribution of patients with EMF and RHD for each taluk in south Kerala. The taluks were then grouped into areas of high (> 4/100,000), medium (2.01-4/100,000), and low (< or = 2/100,000) density in each case. RESULTS: We identified an area of high density of EMF comprising four taluks near the coastline situated within the districts of Alapuzha, Kollam, and Pathanamthitta. Two coastal taluks in Kollam and Alapuzha districts are known areas of deposits of monazite elements in the state. Geographical distribution is not related to prevalence of filariasis and eosinophilia. CONCLUSION: Coexistence of high density of occurrence of EMF and deposits of monazite elements support the geochemical hypothesis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Eating and weight controlling behaviours of young ballet dancers.

Ballet dancers (n = 60) in full-time ballet training and school students (n = 216) completed questionnaires relating to body weight and eating behaviour. Dancers were at lower body weight and had less body fat. Dancers considered they were more preoccupied with thoughts of eating and body weight, felt they had greater difficulty controlling their body weight, used and abused laxatives for weight control, and reported disordered eating more than school students. Two-thirds of dancers and students were currently using at least one method of weight control, dancers favouring not eating between meals, and students exercise. Both groups reported binge eating and using multiple methods to control this behaviour. The pressure for dancers to be at below average weight affects their eating and weight controlling behaviours and their life-style. Young women such as dancers, gymnasts and some athletes are required to be at low body weight. These women maintain high levels of exercise. Whether ballet dancers are self-selected as they are genetically slim, control their body weight with the higher levels of exercise or need to employ strategies to maintain their low body weight, has not been clarified. A significant proportion of ballet dancers have been reported to have symptoms of anorexia nervosa and to be described as 'weight preoccupied'. It has also been suggested that the incidence of disordered eating is greater in women who are under pressure to maintain low body weight. The aim of this study is to compare the eating and weight losing behaviour, attitudes and anthropomorphic characteristics of young women in full-time ballet training and those who are not.

Body Weight↗
PubMed1996

Characteristics of eating disorders among young ballet dancers.

The characteristics of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa were studied in ballet dancers in full-time training and compared with other young women at school. Dancers had higher scores on the Eating Attitudes Test. Dancers were more likely to have an eating disorder when strict modified DSM-3-R criteria were applied. Currently 1 dancer (1.6%) and no student had anorexia nervosa, 1 dancer (1.6%) and 3 students (1.3%) had bulimia nervosa and 5 dancers (8.3%) and 9 students (4.2%) had an unclassified eating disorder. Another dancer had been treated for anorexia nervosa in the past. One dancer was treated for bulimia nervosa and 6 for weight loss. Dancers were more likely to have been told to increase their body weight. Dancers were not more likely to be afraid of losing control of their weight and becoming obese if they attempted weight gain, to ignore the advice to gain weight or resist gaining weight. Regular self-induced vomiting was reported by 4% of women. Dancers are at risk for the development of eating disorders. Ballet dancers are under pressure to maintain low body weight. The low body weight and menstrual disturbance found among young dancers during training are two of the characteristics of anorexia nervosa Ballet dancers use behaviours aimed at weight control and weight loss. In dancers and professional groups under intense pressure to diet, low body weight and amenorrhoea are not sufficient criteria to diagnose anorexia nervosa. These behaviours can result in binge eating and multiple behaviours aimed at preventing binge eating. Whether the characteristics of bulimia among dancers are sufficient for a diagnosis of bulimia nervosa to be made is unknown. The aim of this paper is to study the characteristics of the eating disorders anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and eating disorder not otherwise specified among young ballet dancers in full-time ballet training and to provide information about the risk of development of eating disorders among young women required to maintain below average body weight while continuing above average exercise.

Anorexia Nervosa↗
PubMed1996

Characterization and identification of an adrenal age-related nonpolar fluorescent substance.

The adrenal cortexes of humans and rodents accumulate lipofuscin with age, but the chemical nature of the substance that produces lipofuscin fluorescence in the gland is not known. Analysis of rat adrenal nonpolar lipids revealed a fluorescence profile with increased intensity in the lipids extracted from older animals (23-24 months > 6 months > 6 weeks). The peak occurred at a wavelength of 470 +/- 5 nm(n = 26) when excited at 340 nm. After sucrose density gradient centrifugation, the fluorescent substance was primarily concentrated in subcellular lipid droplets rather than supernatant or particulate. Prolonged stimulation of rats with ACTH for 7 consecutive days caused 14-51% decreases in the fluorescence levels, with a tendency of return to control levels poststimulation regardless of age. In contrast, the nonpolar lipids of mouse adrenal tumor (Y1) cells, which contain no lipofuscin, did not display this fluorescence in the presence or absence of ACTH. The chromatographic characteristics of the substance in a silica gel-60 column resembled those of authentic retinyl palmitate and cholesteryl oleate. Analysis of the substance by HPLC demonstrated at least three prominent peaks, designated XI-3 in order. X1 and X2 were minor peaks; X3 was the major peak. Whereas none of the peaks comigrated with cholesteryl esters, X1 comigrated with authentic retinyl palmitate. Determination of the fatty acid component of the major fluorescent substance X3 by gas-liquid chromatography disclosed stearic acid. Retinyl stearate was, therefore, synthesized. The fluorescent profiles, HPLC retention time and mass spectrometric fragmentation of purified X3 substance were all identical to those of the synthetic compound. In contrast, the rat liver principally accumulated retinyl palmitate with age. Thus, we conclude that 1) the major nonpolar fluorescent substance accumulated in the rat adrenal with age is retinyl stearate, which may be a fluorophore of adrenal lipofuscin; 2) ACTH action may be related to this accumulation; and 3) the type of retinyl ester accumulated in aged animals is organ specific.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1996

Assessing the prevalence of eating disorders in an Australian twin population.

OBJECTIVE: This paper examines the prevalence of disordered eating in a female Australian twin population aged between 28 and 90 years in 1993. METHOD: In two waves of data collection, the eating behaviour of 3869 female twins was first assessed in 1988-1989 by self-report questionnaire and then in 1992-1993 with a telephone interview, using the Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism interview. RESULTS: It was found that about 0.4% of the women have a lifetime prevalence of anorexia nervosa and 1.8% of the group have suffered from bulimia nervosa. The incidence of bulimia nervosa but not anorexia nervosa was markedly higher for those women under 45 (2.3% bulimia nervosa) than for those women 45 years or older. Furthermore, one in three women have at some stage in their life used some extreme method of weight control. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa found are commensurate with those found in smaller studies in Australia and other parts of the world. The finding of widespread use of extreme weight control methods is of concern as this behaviour is a well-recognised precursor to more serious eating disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

The effect of sexual experience on the attitudes of medical students to learning gynecological examinations.

The influence of sexual experience and gender on the attitudes of medical students to the methods of teaching the gynecological examination was studied. Data were obtained by questionnaire from students who had completed their obstetric/gynecological and family medicine clinical terms. Two hundred and eighty-six students agreed to participate. Ninety of the male students (53%) and 63 (54%) of the female students had experienced sexual intercourse. Students, male and female, who were sexually experienced felt they were more able to conduct a gynecological examination with sensitivity, put the woman at ease and to explain to the women what was being done and why. Male students who had not experienced sexual intercourse felt less able to perform a speculum examination, to do a Papanicolaou smear or be able to detect an abnormality. There were no gender differences between the preferred methods of learning to conduct a gynecological examination but non-sexually experienced students ranked higher the examination of a woman under anesthesia. The suggestion of student volunteers was more acceptable to sexually experienced women and non-sexually experienced male students. Students varied in their response to being volunteers for students learning to conduct vaginal or rectal (if male) examinations. If only the same sex were present 31% of non-sexually experienced male students would possibly volunteer for rectal examination and 39% of sexually experienced female students for vaginal examination. Sexual experience influences students' choice of methods for learning to conduct a gynecological examination.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Apolipoprotein E is increased in aged rat kidney.

There is growing evidence to indicate that apolipoprotein (apo) E may be associated with age-related disorders and altered longevity in humans. Using rats as a model, we measured apoE in plasma, brain, heart, kidney, liver and spleen in aged (24-25 mo) and younger rats (6-8 mo). The results disclosed that: (a) the plasma concentrations of immunoreactive apoE in aged rats were higher than those in young animals by 70% (P < 0.01); (b) there was no age-related difference of apoE in the brain, heart, liver or spleen; (c) in contrast, the concentrations of apoE in the kidney of aged rats were markedly higher than those of young animals by 490% (P < 0.01). Our data suggest that, in the rat, age-related change in the organ concentrations of apoE is heterogeneous, and the selective increase in the kidney may have physiologic importance which merits further study.

Aging↗
PubMed1996

The measurement of complexity in surgical pathology.

The quantitation of effort both within and among surgical pathology laboratories is data which is being increasingly sought by physician managers, hospital administrators and managed care organizations. Simple measurement of case numbers fails to adequately represent the work of a laboratory. The complexity of the cases reviewed is likely to explain a significant portion of the variance in the time required to bring a case to final diagnosis. Measures which adequately reflect complexity in surgical pathology cases have not been developed. We have studied a variety of extractable report features and correlated these with the time required for case sign-out. Numbers of slides reviewed and total lines of factual data provided were strong correlates of the time required to complete case review, report construction and verification. Such data suggests that models can be constructed based on data that can be gleaned from case reports and records which will relate such data to actual work time.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1996

Pterygium in lepromatous leprosy.

Pterygia from the eyes of three lepromatous leprosy patients were histopathologically studied. All of the specimens contained acid-fast bacilli (AFB) and exhibited features of chronic inflammation. In the etio-pathogenesis of the pterygium that occurs in leprosy patients, the chronic inflammation that is a feature of the disease, the involvement of the nerves within the pterygium, the increased exposure to sunlight, dust and wind (especially in patients having lagophthalmos), and the ostrasization by society that necessitates living predominantly outdoor lives, should be taken into account.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

AF150(S): a new functionally selective M1 agonist improves cognitive performance in rats.

This study was aimed at evaluating the ability of a new functionally selective partial M1 agonist, AF150(S), to reverse cognitive impairments in rats. A memory deficits-induced animal model was used that involved AF64A (3 nmol/2 microliters/side) bilaterally injected ICV. AF150(S) was administered PO. The pharmacodynamic profile of the compound was established and its general toxicity was evaluated. Animals were tested on three behavioral tasks: step-through passive avoidance, Morris water maze reference memory paradigm, and radial arm maze working memory paradigm. The sign-free dose of AF150(S) was > 40 mg/kg whereas the LD50 was > 500 mg/kg. In comparison, the effective dose in reversing performance impairments on the various tasks was much lower (0.5-5 mg/kg). The data suggest that AF150(S) possesses potential cognitive enhancement abilities, probably due to a specific increase of cholinergic function.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Australian women's perceptions of hormone replacement therapy over 10 years.

The knowledge, beliefs and experience of 60 women with HRT was studied when the women were premenopausal, and 10 years later when they were postmenopausal. Thirty-eight women had taken HRT by 1993. In 1993 women no longer considered clinics and self help groups to be the most useful sources of information about the menopause. They were more likely to think that doctors' knowledge of HRT was not adequate and to favour the use of HRT. Their reservations about all postmenopausal women receiving HRT continued. The women's understanding of long-term use of HRT varied. The women continued to maintain a desire not to experience withdrawal bleeding with HRT. More than 60% of women considered that HRT helped hot flushes, non-specific emotional changes and vaginal dryness. Women in 1993 were more likely to consider that HRT would help the menopausal symptoms of osteoporosis, insomnia and loss of muscle tone while fewer considered anxiety and depression would be relieved by HRT. Only one third believed HRT would reduce the incidence of heart disease. Women were more likely to take or have taken HRT if they were working and had achieved a higher work status (professional), considered reading material as the most useful source of information about menopause, had experienced menopause symptoms as distressing, considered menopause made relationships with husband and children more difficult and supported the universal use of HRT for all women.

Attitude↗
PubMed1995

The inter-relationship of premenstrual symptoms.

The prospective symptom reports of women seeking treatment for premenstrual symptoms and control subjects was investigated. In order to compare symptom reports from premenstrual symptom sufferers and control subjects a method of combining and analysing prospectively collected menstrual cycle symptom data is required. A technique that uses the time of onset of menses and the time of ovulation (as measured by urinary luteinizing hormone excretion) to standardize each cycle into 14 time points was developed. Summary factors were then empirically derived from data collected prospectively from 30 premenstrual symptom sufferers and 19 control subjects. Twenty-two mood symptoms were summarized into a single factor and the 29 most frequently occurring physical symptoms were summarized into two factors. Factor scores were calculated on the basis of these factors and the effect of time during the menstrual cycle on these scores examined. Both physical symptom factor scores increased significantly in the luteal phase for both the premenstrual symptom sufferer group and the control group. The single mood factor score increased significantly in the luteal phase for the premenstrual sufferer group but not for the control group, suggesting that the only qualitative difference between the groups was the presence of cyclic mood symptoms in the premenstrual symptom sufferer group. The premenstrual symptom sufferer group recorded significantly higher scores on each of the three factors than the control group. The correlation between the scores on each of the factors over three cycles was high both in the follicular and luteal phase suggesting that these factor scores provide a reproducible measure of menstrual cycle symptomatology.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Vaginal and speculum examination in medical curricula.

Medical students' perception of their own psychomotor skills and attitudes to different methods of teaching the gynaecological examination were studied. Students rated their physical skills poorly, only 7% feeling confident they could detect an abnormality and only 14% considering their ability to perform a Pap smear was good or very good. They rated their doctor/patient skills better, 55% considering they are good at conducting an examination with sensitivity and 67% at explaining to their patient what they were doing and why. Students' first preference for instruction was to examine patients in the Outpatient Clinic under the supervision of a doctor, a method experienced by most students on one occasion. The next preferred method was for students to work with 2 trained gynaecological assistants, acting as patient and instructor, with discussion of feelings and feedback (see Subjects and Methods). The option of student volunteers was a least favoured method but was cited as first preference by 5% of students. Over 25% of the female students considered volunteering for vaginal examination a 'possibility' if they were examined by a student of the same sex. Over 25% of males would 'possibly' volunteer for rectal examination only if the same sex was present. The comments by the students offer help in the future planning of teaching vaginal examination.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1995

Gene expression in the intestine: the effect of dietary nucleotides.

There is scientific concern regarding the role of dietary nucleotides in the maintenance and repair of the gastrointestinal tract. This concern is based on a growing body of research that demonstrates potential mechanisms for dietary nucleotides to affect intestinal development and turnover. It seems clear that intestinal gene transcription as well as the activity of transcription factors is at least sometimes directly related to nutrition. Implications of this work include the potential role of dietary nucleotides in infant nutrition and in intestinal repair. The techniques of molecular biology will now allow us to explore and explain how dietary factors such as nucleotides affect intestinal mucosal development, function, adaptation, and repair.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Antibody to neural cell adhesion molecule can disrupt the migration of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone neurons into the mouse brain.

The neurons which synthesize and release luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH), are hypothesized to originate in the epithelium of the medial olfactory pit and to migrate into the brain along a scaffolding made up of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM)-immunoreactive branches of the terminal and vomeronasal nerves. These LHRH neurons, studied by immunocytochemical and autoradiographic procedures, were found to originate within a very short period of embryogenesis, specifically day 10, in mice, and to follow a remarkably ordered spatiotemporal course along the migration route into the brain. The purpose of the present experiments was to determine whether perturbation of the NCAM-immunoreactive migration route, at a particular time in development, would arrest the migration of LHRH neurons into the brain. We found that a 1 microliter injection of antiserum to NCAM into the area of the olfactory pit, on day 10 of embryogenesis, significantly reduced the number of LHRH-immunoreactive neurons seen in the epithelium of the medial olfactory pit, with a concomitant significant reduction in the number of LHRH-immunoreactive cells seen outside of the placode, on the migration route. These results confirm our initial hypothesis that LHRH neurons migrate from the epithelium of the olfactory pit to the brain and indicate that NCAM plays a causal role in this phenomenon.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Positron emission tomographic measurements of absolute regional myocardial blood flow permits identification of nonviable myocardium in patients with chronic myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: This study tested the hypothesis that nonviable myocardium can be identified by quantitative measurements of regional myocardial blood flow obtained using positron emission tomography in conjunction with a mathematical model of nitrogen-13 (N-13) ammonia tracer kinetics. BACKGROUND: Under steady state basal conditions there is a minimal level of blood flow required to sustain myocardial viability. Therefore, the hypothesis predicts that regions with flow below a certain threshold are likely to be composed primarily of scar. METHODS: Studies were conducted in 26 patients with chronic myocardial infarction. Positron emission tomographic measurements of basal regional myocardial blood flow (N-13 ammonia) and fluorine-18 (F-18) fluorodeoxyglucose uptake were made and correlated with information about coronary anatomy and regional wall motion to assess myocardial viability. RESULTS: In patients with chronic myocardial infarction, normal zone blood flow (0.81 +/- 0.32 ml/min per g [mean +/- SD]) was greater (p < 0.02) than that of border zones (0.59 +/- 0.29 ml/min per g), which in turn exceeded (p < 0.001) that of infarct zone flow (0.27 +/- 0.17 ml/min per g). Good correlation was noted between relative F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose uptake and relative regional myocardial blood flow in all zones (r = 0.63, p < 0.001). Mismatch between blood flow and F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose uptake, with a single exception, was not observed in any segment with blood flow < 0.25 ml/min per g. All dyskinetic segments (n = 5) also had blood flow < 0.25 ml/min per g. In contrast, 43 of 45 myocardial segments (23 patients) with normal contraction or only mild hypokinesia had flow > or = 0.39 ml/min per g (average flow 0.78 +/- 0.35 ml/min per g). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with chronic myocardial infarction, myocardial viability is unlikely when basal regional myocardial blood flow is < 0.25 ml/min per g. Average basal flow in segments with normal or nearly normal wall motion is 0.78 +/- 0.35 ml/min per g. Thus, positron emission tomographic measurement of regional myocardial blood flow is helpful in identifying nonviable myocardium in these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Receiver operating characteristic analysis of glycogenated nuclei in liver biopsy specimens: quantitative evaluation of their relationship with diabetes and obesity.

Glycogenated hepatocyte nuclei are a common finding in liver biopsy specimens from patients presenting with a variety of clinical disorders. Most commonly, glycogenated nuclei from part of a spectrum of pathological changes in the diabetic or obese patient. However, no previous investigation has assessed glycogenated hepatocyte nuclei in a quantitative manner. In this study we used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to assess quantitatively the strength of glycogenated nuclei as a marker for diabetes and/or obesity. The study population consisted of 102 liver biopsy specimens from the adult population: 20 from diabetic patients, 41 from obese patients, 10 from both obese and diabetic patients, and 31 from neither diabetic nor obese patients. The mean age was 48.5 years with a range of 18 to 80 years. We evaluated the extent of glycogenated nuclei by averaging the number present per high power field over a minimum of 10 high power fields, representing all zones of the liver. The extent of steatosis was graded on a numerical scale from 1 to 10. In ROC analysis perfect tests are associated with an area of 1.0 and completely random tests with an area of 0.5. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that glycogenated nuclei are a relatively good test for distinguishing diabetic from nondiabetic patients (area, 0.75), a poor test for distinguishing obese from nonobese patients (area, 0.60), and a fair test for either condition (area, 0.67). In addition, we observed that glycogenated nuclei were preferentially distributed in the periportal "zone 1" of the liver, showed no correlation with steatosis, and had no relation to patient age. For our patient study population the prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 12%. At a cutoff level of four glycogenated nuclei per 400 x high power field, the specificity and sensitivity of glycogenated nuclei as a test for diabetes are 0.98 and 0.30, respectively, with a positive predictive value of 66%.

Adult↗