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Biomedical subjects

S Lal

Publications and source records attributed to S Lal.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Effect of scopolamine on spontaneous yawning in men.

The effect of scopolamine hydrobromide (0.4 mg s.c.) on spontaneous yawning was studied in 16 male volunteers in a double-blind study. Scopolamine (or placebo) was given 60 min before (-60 min) placebo (physiological saline s.c.) (time 0 min) and yawning monitored from -15 to +60 min by recording displacement of the lower jaw and storing the traces on diskettes. After placebo, the number of yawns was 5.3 +/- 1.4 (means +/- SE) and after scopolamine pretreatment 4.3 +/- 1.6 (p = NS). Drowsiness was assessed with the Stanford Sleepiness Scale and the Analog Sleepiness Scale at -15, 0, +20, +40, +60 min. There was no significant correlation between total sleepiness scores (area under the curve, 0 min to +60 min), peak sleepiness score or peak increment in sleepiness score and number of yawns on either scale. These data suggest that (a) spontaneous yawning in man is not mediated by a central muscarinic cholinergic link, and (b) the assumed relationship between drowsiness and yawning remains to be verified experimentally.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Nedocromil sodium is more effective than cromolyn sodium for the treatment of chronic reversible obstructive airway disease.

In a multicenter, double-blind, group comparative trial, the efficacy of nedocromil sodium (nedocromil, 4 mg, four times daily [qid]), cromolyn sodium (2 mg, qid), and placebo was compared in patients receiving inhaled beta 2-agonists and inhaled corticosteroids for the treatment of chronic reversible obstructive airway disease. After a 2-week baseline period, 132 patients (8 centers) between the ages of 20 and 75 years entered a 4-week run-in period in which the dose of inhaled corticosteroid was reduced by 50 percent. During the run-in phase, deterioration of symptoms (total symptom score) by ten points qualified patients to enter the 6-week drug trial period. Patients in the nedocromil treatment group showed the most robust and consistent improvements over placebo and cromolyn sodium for all daily dairy variables. Statistically significant improvements over placebo were noted for both active treatment groups for daytime, nighttime, and total symptom score. Symptom scores for nedocromil were statistically significantly improved over both cromolyn sodium and placebo for both daytime and nighttime asthma. Patients treated with nedocromil also demonstrated a significant reduction in the use of nighttime as needed (prn) beta 2-agonists as compared with either the placebo- or cromolyn sodium-treated groups. Only nedocromil-treated patients demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in morning peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) as compared with placebo. Both nedocromil and cromolyn sodium groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements in afternoon and evening PEFRs. Collectively, the improvements in nighttime symptoms, decreased bronchodilator use, and improved morning PEFR show that patients treated with nedocromil had improved nocturnal symptoms. Pulmonary function tests (FEV1, FVC, PEFR) demonstrated no statistically significant differences between the two active treatments, although trends favored nedocromil for both FEV1 and PEFR. Although symptoms improved in patients treated with cromolyn sodium, the level of symptom control was less than that achieved by nedocromil. As compared with baseline control (regular dose of inhaled steroids), patients treated with nedocromil plus the 50 percent reduced dosage of inhaled corticosteroid consistently demonstrated comparable or better symptom control. Although both active drugs reduced symptoms, nedocromil proved to be more effective than cromolyn sodium for treatment of reversible obstructive airway disease in patients normally well maintained on regimens of low to moderate doses of inhaled corticosteroids.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Replacement of chlorpromazine with other neuroleptics: effect on abnormal skin pigmentation and ocular changes.

This paper describes the outcome of 15 patients with chlorpromazine (CPZ)-induced abnormal skin pigmentation (ASP) in whom CPZ was replaced with other neuroleptics for three to 13 years. Complete resolution of ASP occurred over a period of six months to five years following substitution with haloperidol (four patients), levomepromazine (three patients), trifluoperazine (one patient), thioproperazine (one patient) as the sole neuroleptic, by a combination of two of the three phenothiazines (four patients) or haloperidol plus pipotiazine (one patient). Resolution was maintained during the remainder of the follow-up period. In one patient, at final follow-up, marked improvement was present three years after CPZ was replaced with levomepromazine. Bilateral lenticular pigmentary deposits persisted in all eight patients examined 3.3 to 13 years after replacing CPZ and less than three months to nine years after resolution of ASP; improvement was noted in only one of these patients. Bilateral endothelial corneal deposits, present in five patients while on CPZ therapy, had disappeared in two patients seven and 13 years, respectively, after replacing CPZ; improvement was noted in two other patients. These findings indicate that: 1. CPZ-induced ASP is completely reversible in most, if not all, patients if CPZ is withdrawn; 2. a variety of neuroleptics including other phenothiazines can be used to replace CPZ without risk of re-emergence of ASP; 3. CPZ-induced lenticular changes persist whereas corneal changes may resolve slowly over a period of many years following replacement of CPZ; 4. ASP and ocular changes induced by CPZ may be subserved by two different pathophysiological mechanisms.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Is levomepromazine a useful drug in treatment-resistant schizophrenia?

Levomepromazine (LMP) unexpectedly improved 16 of 23 chronic treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients who were hospitalized in most cases for at least 2 years and who manifested positive symptoms, irritability and, in many cases, restlessness, hostility, uncooperativeness, poor concentration and aggressive behavior. Improvement led to discharge in 7 (6 to a foster home), placement on a waiting list for a foster home in 4 and improved behavior and autonomy in 5 patients. Five subjects developed seizures and 1 agranulocytosis. Whether improvement with LMP is caused by unique antischizophrenic properties or by diminished liability to induce side effects such as akathisia, a formal controlled study of LMP in treatment-resistant schizophrenia is merited.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Acute respiratory infections in children: a study of knowledge and practices of mothers in rural Haryana.

In the present study, data were collected on knowledge and practices of mothers in two villages of Block Beri of district Rohtak for devising a standard management plan. In all 304 mothers were interviewed. About 23 per cent mothers recognised pneumonia by fast breathing and 11.2 per cent recognised severe pneumonia by chest indrawing. Only 1.3 per cent mothers knew infective origin of ARI. Although most of them were convinced about continuation of breast feeding, 70 per cent of them were advising food restriction. Use of herbal tea in ARI was widely prevalent and so was the practice of putting warm mustard oil in ear for curing ear pain. Primary Health Centre was the most frequented place for treatment of ARI and mother-in-law was the most important person in taking management decisions for the child.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

Age dependence and distribution of green and blue fluorophores in human lens homogenates.

This is comprehensive study of the age dependence and regional distribution of the blue and the green fluorophores, per unit protein, (specific fluorescence) in the human lens. Spectroscopic measurements were obtained using fiber optic sensors that considerably improved upon techniques used in the past because inner-filter and scattering effects were minimized. An increase in the specific green and blue fluorescence was observed with increasing age in the soluble and insoluble nuclear fractions. In the cortical fractions, an increase with age was observed in lenses of donors under 30 yr old. No significant variations in the specific fluorescence were measured beyond the third/fourth decade of life in the cortical fractions. The specific fluorescence was about twice as high in samples from the cortex compared to those from the nucleus. The insoluble protein fractions also exhibited twice as much specific fluorescence compared to the soluble ones. At older ages, the fluorescence level of insoluble proteins was always greater than that in soluble ones, but the specific fluorescence of insoluble fractions from young lenses was less than that of soluble older lenses. The greater fluorescence per unit protein may be just a manifestation or marker of the insolubilization process. Furthermore, because a threshold level of specific fluorescence was observed in the cortical fraction of clear lenses, it is likely that fluorophor formation is not a marker of aging in this region, as it is in the nuclear region in which the specific fluorescence increases with increasing age, perhaps reaching a threshold level beyond which cataractogenesis may occur.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Spectroscopic detection of lipid peroxidation products and structural changes in a sphingomyelin model system.

The peroxidation induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide in sphingomyelin from bovine brain was investigated in detail. The lipid peroxidation products resulting from oxidation of lipid acyl chains were detected, identified and characterized by optical absorption. Fourier transform infrared, fluorescence and NMR spectroscopies. The extent of hydrocarbon chain degradation in vitro was quantified by measuring the relative change in absorbance of the peak at 241 nm characteristic of conjugated double bond or diene absorption band. FTIR data revealed that the lipid peroxidation of sphingomyelin disrupted the acyl chain and head group regions resulting in derangement of the ordered membrane.

Fourier Analysis↗
PubMed1991

Stereospecificity of the dopamine receptor mediating the growth hormone response to apomorphine in man. Short communication.

The stereospecificity of the D-2 receptor mediating the growth hormone (GH) response to apomorphine (Apo) and the D-2 receptor regulating prolactin (PRL) secretion were investigated in 10 normal men by examining the effects of cis-flupenthixol (cis-Fx) and trans-flupenthixol (trans-Fx). cis-Fx (1 mg six hourly times four doses) antagonized the GH response to Apo HCl (0.5 mg sc) and increased basal serum PRL concentrations whereas the trans-isomer showed no effect. These findings (a) provide further evidence that the GH response to Apo is mediated by stimulating dopamine (DA) receptors, and, (b) demonstrate stereospecificity of the DA receptor mediating the GH response to Apo and the DA receptor regulating PRL secretion.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The effect of methyltestosterone on the growth hormone response to the dopamine receptor agonist, apomorphine.

1. There is some evidence that androgens affect dopaminergic function in animals and man. We investigated the effect of methyltestosterone (MT) (30 mg po) on the growth hormone (GH) response to the dopamine (DA) receptor agonist, apomorphine (Apo) HC1 (0.5 mg sc), in 9 normal men. MT was given 2 hr before Apo. 2. The peak plasma MT concentration was present 1 hr after administration (19.9 +/- 19.5 ng/ml; X +/- SD); the concentration at 4 hr was 7.2 +/- 4.9 ng/ml. At the time of Apo administration, plasma MT varied from 6.0-24.1 ng/ml. 3. There was no significant effect of MT on Apo-GH secretion (interaction F(7,56) = 1.08; p = NS). The mean individual peak GH concentration after Apo alone was 20.2 +/- 11.9 (X +/- SD) vs 22.2 +/- 9.9 ng/ml when MT preceded Apo (p = NS). 4. These results suggest that exogenous androgens do not affect DA receptor function in males with normal androgenic function. Lack of effect due to an insufficient dose or duration of administration of MT cannot be excluded.

Adolescent↗