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Biomedical subjects

S F Abraham

Publications and source records attributed to S F Abraham.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Continuous infusion of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) in patients with anorexia nervosa.

LHRH was administered by continuous 4-hour intravenous infusion to 14 anorexia nervosa patients on a refeeding programme. Infusions were repeated in 7 patients following weight gain and in 4 after a course of bromocriptine. Five healthy female volunteers in the early or mid-follicular phase of the menstrual cycle served as controls. The LH response was diminished in patients at 65% standard weight, but was of progressively increasing magnitude in patients at 80% and 95% standard weight. The pattern of LH response to the 4-hour infusion was suggestive of a deficient stimulation by endogenous LHRH in patients at extremely low weights, and of an impaired oestrogen feedback mechanism in patients at intermediate weights. Bromocriptine enhanced the LH response on one occasion in patient with moderately elevated plasma HPR values, but failed to produce a similar effect when given to 3 patients with normal HPR levels. The mean FSH response did not differ significantly between patients in different weight categories, although those at 65% standard weight had a markedly greater variance of response. Plasma oestradiol values were lower in patients at 65% standard weight than in those at higher weights.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

The psychosexual histories of adolescent girls and young women with anorexia nervosa.

Comprehensive psychosexual histories were elicited from 31 female patients with anorexia nervosa. The subjects showed a wide spectrum of sexual knowledge, attitudes and behaviour. Some appeared to be markedly inhibited, while others were experienced and assertive in regard to sexual matters. Age at interview appeared to be the major factor determining whether individual patients were sexually experienced or not. A majority of patients felt that a sexual challenge had precipitated their illness, and most reported a decrease in sexual interest and enjoyment following weight loss, particularly when this was severe. The effect of the illness on actual sexual behaviour, however, was variable, some patients decreasing and others increasing their sexual activity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

The diet composition and nutritional knowledge of patients with anorexia nervosa.

A retrospective study of typical 24-h food intake was undertaken of the diets of 17 anorexia nervosa patients during the initial and the most severe phases of their illness. Patients completed a nutritional knowledge questionnaire. Patients' diets were significantly lower in energy and in all major nutrients than those of control subjects. The proportion of energy derived from protein was significantly higher, from fats significantly lower and from carbohydrates not significantly different from that of controls. The mean intake of all nutrients in the more severe phase of illness was lower in the initial phase. Intakes of calcium, retinol activity and ascorbic acid were below RDA levels in the majority of patients, but only a few reported intakes of thiamin, riboflavin and niacin equivalent below RDA values. Most patients scored higher on the nutritional knowledge questionnaire than matched controls, particularly in respect to questions concerning caloric content of food, dieting and roughage. Not all patients obtained high nutritional knowledge scores however, and 25 per cent performed less well than selected controls.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Eye signs in patients with anorexia nervosa.

Thirteen anorexia nervosa patients and 13 control subjects were examined for cataract and xerophthalmia. Although 11 patients had Vitamin A intakes below recommended daily levels for significant periods of time, there was no evidence to suggest that they had an increased incidence of pathological changes in conjunctiva or lens.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Plasma gonadotrophins and LHRH infusions in anorexia nervosa.

Nine female patients with anorexia nervosa were studied, three of them at different stages of weight gain. Basal plasma LH (luteinising hormone) was depressed in emaciated patients, but basal plasma FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) was normal. LH was significantly lower in patients who had been amenorrhoeic for less than 24 months than in those whose amenorrhoea was of longer duration. LH and FSH levels were stimulated by LHRH (luteinizing hormone releasing hormone), infused at a rate of 0.5 microgram/min for four hours. One patient, tested at 60% of standard weight, had no LH response. In all other patients below 70% of standard, the maximal LH response occurred within the first hour of infusion. In patients at higher weights, the LH response was biphasic, and the maximal level was reached during the last hour of the infusion. The FSH response, similarly, approached maximal during the first hour in patients below 70% of standard, but continued to rise throughout the infusion in patients at higher weights. Body weight expressed as a percentage of standard correlated significantly with both phases of the LH response, but not with the FSH response. Most previous authors have found an association between low body weight and depressed pituitary gonadotrophins in anorexia nervosa. The present findings further elucidate this relationship.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

A prospective study of premenstrual tension symptoms in healthy young Australians.

Thirty healthy young women volunteered to complete questionnaires concerning physical and psychological symptoms during a full menstrual cycle. A maximal incidence of minor physical and psychological symptoms was observed in the first few days of menstruation. This was preceded by a gradual rise in the level of symptomatology during the premenstruum.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

The onset of anorexia nervosa.

In a retrospective study of case notes a number of experiential and psychological factors were discerned of possible importance to the psychogenesis of anorexia nervosa. These factors included issues of dependence and independence, sexual challenge, concern about obesity, and a variety of other, less specific stresses. Attempts to confirm the findings by means of a prospective study were impeded by difficulties in defining the onset of the illness. While in some patients the occurrence of anorexic type behaviour led immediately to weight loss, in others there was a significant delay between the onset of behavioural change and consequent emaciation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

The specificity of the dipsogenic effect of angiotensin II.

The specificity of choice in drinking by sheep was examined when a cafeteria of water and of 900 mmol/1 solutions of NaCl and KCl was presented, during intracarotid infusion of angiotensin II (800-1200 ng/min) or 4M NaCl (1.6 ml/min), and following 48 hr of water deprivation or following Na depletion. Water was the fluid of predominant choice with angiotensin II, 4M NaCl infusion and water deprivation. The hypertonic NaCl was the clear choice of the Na deficient animals. With a cafeteria of 300 mmol/l solutions, there was no clear discrimination between NaCl and water with intracarotid angiotensin II infusion. A 2 choice study of taste preference for water or NaCl concentrations with free access indicated sheep elect to take more of higher NaCl concentrations than the rat, and that 300 mmol/1 NaCl is not less preferred than water in sheep. The data indicated, overall, that the dipsogenic effect of supraphysiological cerebral blood concentrations of angiotensin II is biased to water drinking when the choice is between water and 900 mM NaCl and KCl solutions. It does not induce any specific salt appetite.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1976

Effect of an angiotensin antagonist, Sar1-Ala8-angiotensin II on physiological thirst.

Initially it was shown that infusion of Sar1-Ala8-angiotensin II (P113) into the third ventricle (50-100 mug/ml at 1.1 ml/hr) effectively abolished the large water intake induced 1-2 min after beginning an intracarotid infusion of angiotensin II at 800 ng/min which causes an unphysiologically high concentration of angiotensin II in cerebral arterial blood. Infusion of P113 (50-100 mug/ml at 1.1 ml/hr) into the third brain ventricle for 20 min prior to and during presentation of water to sheep after 48 hr water deprivation did not reduce water intake. Water intake associated with rapid food intake or carotid artery infusion of hypertonic NaC1 was similarly unaffected by intraventricular administration of P113. While high concentrations of angiotensin II are dipsogenic in sheep, these results cast doubt on a contributory role for angiotensin II in thirst caused by water depletion or rapid food intake in the sheep.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1976

Increased water drinking induced by sodium depletion in sheep.

Forty-eight hours of sodium depletion by acute cannulation of a parotid duct, via the buccal papilla, in the sheep, resulted in a progressive decrease in salivary secretion rate, salivary, urinary and plasma [Na] and no change in plasma [K]. In the first 24 h of Na depletion water intake was significantly increased. As normal sheep parotid saliva [Na] is higher than plasma [Na] and salivary loss over the first 24 h represented Na loss in excess of water relative to extracellular proportions, increased water intake was not osmotically induced. However, the animals did not replace their water deficit on either of the 2 days of Na depletion. This would appear to be valuable experimental model of increased water intake probably induced by hypovaolaemia, but uncomplicated concurrent osmotic stimuli, or any other factors which might result with the other commonly used experimental stimuli of thirst such as haemorrhage.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Aldosterone secretion during high sodium cerebrospinal fluid perfusion of the brain ventricles.

Conscious sheep with permanent indwelling cannulae in the lateral ventricles and the cisterna magna were Na depleted and then perfused for 9 h with an artificial CSF solution. There were 3 experimental groups: Group I (n=5) received perfusion with aritifical CSF containing NA 170 MEq./1, Group II (n=7) received perfusion with artificial CSF containing Na 145 mEq./1, Group III (n=7) received no perfusion. In Group I the blood aldosterone level fell from 26.4 +/- 7.4 to 8.6 +/- 2.3 ng/100 ml by 9 h after perfusion. There was no significant change in plasma [Na] or [K], blood angiotensin II or plasma renin concentration. Blood cortisol and corticosterone levels rose. There was also a fall in post-perfusion. Group III showed no significant change in blood aldosterone concentration. Multivariate statistical analysis showed that the fall in aldosterone levels during 170 mEq./l Na perfusion could not be accounted for by changes, either alone or together, of ACTH as evidenced by alteration in blood cortisol or corticosterone, or by change of plasma [Na], [K] or renin concentrations. This data supports the hypothesis of an additional factor which may be of CNS origin being involved in the control of aldosterone secretion.

Aldosterone↗
PubMed1975

Water drinking induced in sheep by angiotensin--a physiological or pharmacological effect?

The effect of val5-angiotensin II amide on water drinking in sheep was studied against a background of comprehensive data on arterial blood and cerebrospinal fluid angiotensin II levels in sheep under a variety of physiological conditions. Physiological range of blood angiotensin II concentration is 1-100 ng/100 ml. Intravenous infusion of angiotensin II within the physiological range did not increase water drinking. Intracarotid infusion of angiotensin II, or injection into third ventricle or hypothalamus, consistently caused immediate drinking of large amounts of water. Dosages necessary for effect were in the supraphysiological range. Quantitative examination of data in sheep and other species suggests that a physiological role for angiotensin II in thirst is not proved.

Angiotensin II↗