Psychological impact of COVID-19 Pandemic and associated factors on college students.

Objective: To determine the psychological impact of coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic on college students, and to explore factors influencing their anxiety and depression levels.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2020 to January 2021 at the Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, and comprised medical students of either gender in the first to third year of the academic programme. Data was collected using a pretested online structured questionnaire comprising demographic information, academic problems, daily life difficulties and the 25-item Aga Khan University Anxiety and Depression Scale.

Effects of sugar rich diet on brain serotonin, hyperphagia and anxiety in animal model of both genders.

Lower levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; serotonin) in the brain elicit sugar craving, while ingestion of sugar rich diet improves mood and alleviates anxiety. Gender differences occur not only in brain serotonin metabolism but also in a serotonin mediated functional responses. The present study was therefore designed to investigate gender related differences on the effects of long term consumption of sugar rich diet on the metabolism of serotonin in the hypothalamus and whole brain which may be relevant with the hyperphagic and anxiety reducing effects of sugar rich diet.

Behavioral, hormonal and central serotonin modulating effects of injected leptin.

Leptin is viewed as an important target for developing novel therapeutics for obesity, depression/anxiety and cognitive dysfunctions. The present study therefore concerns behavioral, hormonal and central serotonin modulating effects of systemically injected leptin. Pharmacological doses (100 and 500 μg/kg) of leptin injected systemically decreased 24h cumulative food intake and body weight in freely feeding rats and improved acquisition and retention of memory in Morris water maze test.

Serum leptin and cortisol, related to acutely perceived academic examination stress and performance in female university students.

Leptin, identified as an antiobesity hormone, also has important role in responses to stress and processing of memory. This study was designed to determine effects of academic examination stress-induced changes in serum leptin and its impact on academic performance. Eighty five healthy female students (age 19-21 years; BMI 21.

Effects of clinically relevant doses of methyphenidate on spatial memory, behavioral sensitization and open field habituation: a time related study.

The psychostimulant methylphenidate (MPD) is a first-line drug for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Despite acceptable therapeutic efficacy, there is limited data regarding the long-term consequences of MPD exposure over extended periods. The present study concerns effects of clinically relevant doses of MPD, administered orally to rats for an extended period, on spatial memory, behavioral sensitization and habituation to an open field.

Oral administration of haloperidol at clinically recommended doses elicits smaller parkinsonian effects but more tardive dyskinesia in rats.

The present study was designed to monitor extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) elicited by the oral administration of haloperidol at clinically recommended doses and to compare it with EPS produced when the drug is injected intraperitoneally at doses used in animal research. Rats injected with haloperidol at a dose of 1 mg/kg daily for 5 weeks exhibited akinesia in an open field and impaired motor coordination. Effects of the drug on motor coordination but not on open field akinesia were attenuated gradually from 2-5 weeks of treatment.

Perception of academic examination stress: effects on serum leptin, cortisol, appetite and performance.

Background: Examination stress is a psychological stress that activate hypothalamic-pituitary adrenocortical (HPA) axis to increase circulating levels of glucocorticoids. The fat derived hormone leptin is also released in response to stress-inducing condition. To workout the role of leptin and cortisol in response to perceived levels of examination stress and their effects on academic performance.

Attenuation of somatodendritic responses to 8-hydroxy-2-di-npropylamino tetralin following long-term dietary sugar consumption in rats.

Objective: To determine changes in response to a selective serotonin-1A receptor agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) following long-term consumption of sugar as part of meal in rats.

Study Design: Experimental study.

Place And Duration Of Study: The Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, from June to August 2005.

Long-term consumption of sugar-rich diet decreases the effectiveness of somatodendritic serotonin-1A receptors.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)-tetralin (8-OH-DPAT), a 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-1A selective agonist was used to investigate a possible role of somatodendritic serotonin-1A receptors in the precipitation of hyperphagia and decreases of 5-HT metabolism associated with long-term consumption of sugar rich-diet. In the first part of study, dose-related hyperphagic effects of 8-OH-DPAT were monitored in freely feeding rats. In the second part of study, rats were fed freely on a sugar-rich diet (prepared by mixing standard rodent diet with table sugar in the ratio of 3:1 [w/w]) for 5 weeks.

Effects of long term consumption of sugar as part of meal on serotonin 1-a receptor dependent responses.

In view of an effect of high intake of sugar on brain serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and a role of serotonin in the regulation of appetite, the present study concerns pre and postsynaptic responses to a selective 5-HT-1A receptor agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) following long term consumption of sugar as part of meal in rats. Sugar diet was prepared by mixing standard rodent diet and table sugar in ratio of 3:1 (w/w) and rats were fed freely on this diet for five weeks. Control rats were fed freely on standard rodent diet.