Asma khan - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Asma khan

Research paper thumbnail of The effect of single tooth implant restorations on the survival, morbidity, pulpal, and periapical health of adjacent teeth: A chart review

Clinical implant dentistry and related research, Jan 19, 2018

To determine whether the placement and restoration of a single tooth posterior implant affects th... more To determine whether the placement and restoration of a single tooth posterior implant affects the survival, morbidity, pulpal, and periapical health of adjacent natural teeth. A retrospective chart review identified patients who received single posterior tooth implants between August 2004 and July 2015 at the UNC SOD and met the study inclusion criteria. Preoperative and postoperative records were reviewed; survival and changes in coronal, pulpal, and periapical status of teeth adjacent to the implant and contralateral tooth were recorded. Dichotomous survival, restoration, and retreatment outcomes were analyzed using conditional logistic regression with patient as strata and implant versus control as the predictor. Exact odds ratio estimates and the 95% confidence intervals were obtained for the relationship of implant versus control side and outcomes. Five hundred and fifty-five sites with follow-up time averaging 5 years ± 30.8 months were reviewed. Teeth adjacent to implants ha...

Research paper thumbnail of Sensorimotor gating deficits in "two-hit" models of schizophrenia risk factors

Schizophrenia research, Jan 22, 2017

Genetic and environmental models of neuropsychiatric disease have grown exponentially over the la... more Genetic and environmental models of neuropsychiatric disease have grown exponentially over the last 20years. One measure that is often used to evaluate the translational relevance of these models to human neuropsychiatric disease is prepulse inhibition of startle (PPI), an operational measure of sensorimotor gating. Deficient PPI characterizes several neuropsychiatric disorders but has been most extensively studied in schizophrenia. It has become a useful tool in translational neuropharmacological and molecular genetics studies because it can be measured across species using almost the same experimental parameters. Although initial studies of PPI in rodents were pharmacological because of the robust predictive validity of PPI for antipsychotic efficacy, more recently, PPI has become standard common behavioral measures used in genetic and neurodevelopmental models of schizophrenia. Here we review "two hit" models of schizophrenia and discuss the utility of PPI as a tool in ...

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of Supplementation of Ascorbic Acid and Amla Powder on Hematobiochemical Parameters in Crossbred Dairy Cows

Indian Journal of Animal Nutrition, 2013

An experiment was conducted to compare the effect of ascorbic acid and amla powder in crossbred d... more An experiment was conducted to compare the effect of ascorbic acid and amla powder in crossbred dairy cows in terms of changes in hemato-biochemical parameters during summer season viz. June to August. Twelve dairy cows were randomly divided into three groups of four animals each viz; T0 (control), T1 (ascorbic acid supplemented at the rate of 50 mg/kg body weight) and T2 (amla powder supplemented at the rate of 200 mg/kg body weight). Haemoglobin, packed cell volume (PCV), total protein (TP) and plasma sodium were significantly (P<0.05) lower in T0 (8.41 g%, 29.02%, 7.35 g/dl, 126.00 mmol/L) than in T1 (9.77 g%, 32.96%, 8.34 g/dl, 132.93 mmol/L) and T2 (10.10 g%, 33.43%, 8.55 g/dl, 138.23 mmol/L). Plasma glucose, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine amino-transferase (ALT) and aspertate amino-transferase (AST) values were significantly increased (P<0.05) in T0 in comparison to T1 and T2. Both ascorbic acid and amla supplementation produced similar hemato-biochemical changes related to heat stress in dairy cattle. It is concluded that amla powder can be used as a supplement in dairy cows during summer to reduce heat stress.

Research paper thumbnail of Early Adolescent Emergence of Reversal Learning Impairments in Isolation-Reared Rats

Developmental Neuroscience, 2015

Cognitive impairments appear early in the progression of schizophrenia, often preceding the sympt... more Cognitive impairments appear early in the progression of schizophrenia, often preceding the symptoms of psychosis. Thus, the systems subserving these functions may be more vulnerable to, and mechanistically linked with, the initial pathology. Understanding the trajectory of behavioral and anatomical abnormalities relevant to the schizophrenia prodrome and their sensitivity to interventions in relevant models will be critical to identifying early therapeutic strategies. Isolation rearing of rats is an environmental perturbation that deprives rodents of social contact from weaning through adulthood and produces behavioral and neuronal abnormalities that mirror some pathophysiology associated with schizophrenia, e.g. frontal cortex abnormalities and prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle deficits. Previously, we showed that PPI deficits in isolation-reared rats emerge in mid-adolescence (4 weeks after weaning; approx. postnatal day 52) but are not present when tested at 2 weeks after wea...

Research paper thumbnail of Reflections on Qualitative Research with Muslim Families

Fieldwork in Religion, 2011

Detailed accounts of fieldwork relationships can be helpful reading for those embarking on resear... more Detailed accounts of fieldwork relationships can be helpful reading for those embarking on research with a similar population. In this spirit, the article presents reflections on the process of conducting qualitative research with 60 Muslim families. The main research aim was to describe and explain how children (aged 12 and under) are brought up to be Muslims. Fairly detailed reflections are presented about four main aspects of the research process: research team members’ identities and the implications of these, the recruitment of families to take part in the research, the conduct of fieldwork (interviews and observation) and the use of child-friendly techniques, such as interviews with young children, oral diaries and photo elicitation.

Research paper thumbnail of Responsiveness of 5-HT2C receptors in repeatedly diazepam-injected rats: a behavioral and neurochemical study

Pharmacological reports : PR

The role of 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin; 5-HT)2C receptors in anxiety and the anxiolytic effec... more The role of 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin; 5-HT)2C receptors in anxiety and the anxiolytic effects of drugs is well documented. In view of the withdrawal anxiety associated with repeated diazepam intake, the present study concerns the efficacy of 5-HT2C receptors in rats treated with diazepam. Results show that diazepam injections at a dose of 2 mg/kg daily for two weeks increased weekly food intake and growth rate. Anxiolytic effects of the drug monitored in a light/dark activity box were not significant after single administration. One week and two weeks of administration elicited anxiolytic effects, which were smaller after two weeks of administration as compared to one week, suggesting the development of tolerance to the anxiolytic profile of diazepam. Moreover, three days' withdrawal from repeated administration elicited anxiogenic behavior in the light/dark activity box. The behavioral and neurochemical effects of 1-(m-chlorophenyl)piperazine (m-CPP) (3 mg/kg), a 5-HT2C a...

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of Antibiotics on Bone and Soft Tissue Healing Following Immediate Single-tooth Implant Placement into Sites with Apical Pathology

The Journal of oral implantology, Jan 30, 2014

Overprescription of antibiotics can cause bacterial resistance problems leading to life-threateni... more Overprescription of antibiotics can cause bacterial resistance problems leading to life-threatening illness and public health crisis. Clinicians often believe that antibiotics can prevent dental implant failure and post-operative complications. In conjunction with implant surgery, antibiotics are therefore routinely prescribed for all cases. In this double-blind, randomized controlled trial, the effects of antibiotics on the clinical outcomes of immediate implant placement replacing a tooth with an apical pathology were examined to compare antibiotics (N=10) and placebo (N=10). In each subject, a tooth with a chronic apical lesion was extracted, thoroughly curetted, irrigated, and replaced with single implant with a screw-retained custom provisional abutment/crown. Post-operative pain/discomfort was measured at 1 and 4 week post-surgical follow up visits using visual analog scales. Facial alveolar bone and soft tissue changes were measured using pre- and post-operative cone-beam com...

Research paper thumbnail of Social Cohesion and Civil Law: Marriage, Divorce and Religious Courts

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2011

Research paper thumbnail of Meta-analysis as a Diagnostic Tool for Predicting Disease Onset and/or Activity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Methods in Molecular Biology, 2014

Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is a relatively rare disorder with prevalence rates between 5 a... more Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is a relatively rare disorder with prevalence rates between 5 and 50 per 100,000 population. This means performing any epidemiological analysis in a specific research center is difficult, due to the low number of cases within any one location. There is a need for biomarkers and diagnostic aids to monitor SLE disease activity and severity prior, during, and after treatment. Many specialist lupus clinics worldwide have published trials following in detail small numbers of patients that have been monitored for a disease biomarker, e.g., an autoantibody against a self-molecule in prospective and retrospective studies. They have then attempted to correlate autoantibody levels against an autoantigen with disease activity, e.g., nephritis development. The results are often inconclusive with the conclusion &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;the autoantibody may be useful in monitoring disease activity.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; Meta-analysis is a statistical technique that can be used for combining the findings of multiple studies to add power to any tentative conclusion proposed by individual studies. Here, we describe a method for analyzing biomarkers of interest as predictors of disease activity, using anti-C1q autoantibodies as an example.

Research paper thumbnail of Surgical preparation: anesthesia & hemostasis

Endodontic Topics, 2005

The intra-operative control of pain and hemorrhage represents significant factors that are requir... more The intra-operative control of pain and hemorrhage represents significant factors that are required for modern, effective, and efficient endodontic surgical procedures. This review focuses on these important issues and emphasizes the level of clinical evidence of various studies reporting on interventions to alter pain or hemorrhage. To accomplish this goal, the review will provide an overview of the fundamental properties of local anesthetics and hemostasis and then build upon this foundation to provide evidence-based recommendations for treatment considerations.

Research paper thumbnail of Tolerance in the anxiolytic profile following repeated administration of diazepam but not buspirone is associated with a decrease in the responsiveness of postsynaptic 5-HT-1A receptors

Acta Biologica Hungarica, 2007

To understand the role of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT)-1A receptors in the treatment of ... more To understand the role of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT)-1A receptors in the treatment of anxiety and the development of tolerance to benzodiazepines the present study was designed to monitor the responsiveness of postsynaptic 5-HT-1A receptors following repeated administration of diazepam and buspirone. Results show that tolerance in the anxiolytic profile is produced following repeated administration (2 weeks) of diazepam (2 mg/kg) but not buspirone (0.5 mg/kg). The behavioral effects of 8-OH-DPAT at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg were monitored 3 days after repeated administration of saline or buspirone or diazepam. The results show that 8-OH-DPAT elicited forepaw treading was smaller in repeated diazepam but not repeated buspirone injected rats, while hyperlocomotive effects of 8-OH-DPAT were smaller in both repeated buspirone and repeated diazepam injected rats. The results suggest that postsynaptic 5-HT-1A receptor-dependent responses were attenuated following long-term administration of diazepam but not buspirone. Role of 5-HT-1A receptors in the development of tolerance to the anxiolytic effects of diazepam but not buspirone is discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of Global genetic insight contributed by consanguineous Pakistani families segregating hearing loss

Human mutation, Jan 10, 2018

Consanguineous Pakistani pedigrees segregating deafness have contributed decisively to the discov... more Consanguineous Pakistani pedigrees segregating deafness have contributed decisively to the discovery of 31 of the 68 genes associated with nonsyndromic autosomal recessive hearing loss (HL) worldwide. In this study, we utilized genome-wide genotyping, Sanger and exome sequencing to identify 163 DNA variants in 41 previously reported HL genes segregating in 321 Pakistani families. Of these, 71 (43.6%) variants identified in 29 genes are novel. As expected from genetic studies of disorders segregating in consanguineous families, the majority of affected individuals (94.4%) are homozygous for HL-associated variants, with the other variants being compound heterozygotes. The five most common HL genes in the Pakistani population are SLC26A4, MYO7A, GJB2, CIB2 and HGF, respectively. Our study provides a profile of the genetic etiology of HL in Pakistani families, which will allow for the development of more efficient genetic diagnostic tools, aid in accurate genetic counseling and guide ap...

Research paper thumbnail of The effect of single tooth implant restorations on the survival, morbidity, pulpal, and periapical health of adjacent teeth: A chart review

Clinical implant dentistry and related research, Jan 19, 2018

To determine whether the placement and restoration of a single tooth posterior implant affects th... more To determine whether the placement and restoration of a single tooth posterior implant affects the survival, morbidity, pulpal, and periapical health of adjacent natural teeth. A retrospective chart review identified patients who received single posterior tooth implants between August 2004 and July 2015 at the UNC SOD and met the study inclusion criteria. Preoperative and postoperative records were reviewed; survival and changes in coronal, pulpal, and periapical status of teeth adjacent to the implant and contralateral tooth were recorded. Dichotomous survival, restoration, and retreatment outcomes were analyzed using conditional logistic regression with patient as strata and implant versus control as the predictor. Exact odds ratio estimates and the 95% confidence intervals were obtained for the relationship of implant versus control side and outcomes. Five hundred and fifty-five sites with follow-up time averaging 5 years ± 30.8 months were reviewed. Teeth adjacent to implants ha...

Research paper thumbnail of Sensorimotor gating deficits in "two-hit" models of schizophrenia risk factors

Schizophrenia research, Jan 22, 2017

Genetic and environmental models of neuropsychiatric disease have grown exponentially over the la... more Genetic and environmental models of neuropsychiatric disease have grown exponentially over the last 20years. One measure that is often used to evaluate the translational relevance of these models to human neuropsychiatric disease is prepulse inhibition of startle (PPI), an operational measure of sensorimotor gating. Deficient PPI characterizes several neuropsychiatric disorders but has been most extensively studied in schizophrenia. It has become a useful tool in translational neuropharmacological and molecular genetics studies because it can be measured across species using almost the same experimental parameters. Although initial studies of PPI in rodents were pharmacological because of the robust predictive validity of PPI for antipsychotic efficacy, more recently, PPI has become standard common behavioral measures used in genetic and neurodevelopmental models of schizophrenia. Here we review "two hit" models of schizophrenia and discuss the utility of PPI as a tool in ...

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of Supplementation of Ascorbic Acid and Amla Powder on Hematobiochemical Parameters in Crossbred Dairy Cows

Indian Journal of Animal Nutrition, 2013

An experiment was conducted to compare the effect of ascorbic acid and amla powder in crossbred d... more An experiment was conducted to compare the effect of ascorbic acid and amla powder in crossbred dairy cows in terms of changes in hemato-biochemical parameters during summer season viz. June to August. Twelve dairy cows were randomly divided into three groups of four animals each viz; T0 (control), T1 (ascorbic acid supplemented at the rate of 50 mg/kg body weight) and T2 (amla powder supplemented at the rate of 200 mg/kg body weight). Haemoglobin, packed cell volume (PCV), total protein (TP) and plasma sodium were significantly (P<0.05) lower in T0 (8.41 g%, 29.02%, 7.35 g/dl, 126.00 mmol/L) than in T1 (9.77 g%, 32.96%, 8.34 g/dl, 132.93 mmol/L) and T2 (10.10 g%, 33.43%, 8.55 g/dl, 138.23 mmol/L). Plasma glucose, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine amino-transferase (ALT) and aspertate amino-transferase (AST) values were significantly increased (P<0.05) in T0 in comparison to T1 and T2. Both ascorbic acid and amla supplementation produced similar hemato-biochemical changes related to heat stress in dairy cattle. It is concluded that amla powder can be used as a supplement in dairy cows during summer to reduce heat stress.

Research paper thumbnail of Early Adolescent Emergence of Reversal Learning Impairments in Isolation-Reared Rats

Developmental Neuroscience, 2015

Cognitive impairments appear early in the progression of schizophrenia, often preceding the sympt... more Cognitive impairments appear early in the progression of schizophrenia, often preceding the symptoms of psychosis. Thus, the systems subserving these functions may be more vulnerable to, and mechanistically linked with, the initial pathology. Understanding the trajectory of behavioral and anatomical abnormalities relevant to the schizophrenia prodrome and their sensitivity to interventions in relevant models will be critical to identifying early therapeutic strategies. Isolation rearing of rats is an environmental perturbation that deprives rodents of social contact from weaning through adulthood and produces behavioral and neuronal abnormalities that mirror some pathophysiology associated with schizophrenia, e.g. frontal cortex abnormalities and prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle deficits. Previously, we showed that PPI deficits in isolation-reared rats emerge in mid-adolescence (4 weeks after weaning; approx. postnatal day 52) but are not present when tested at 2 weeks after wea...

Research paper thumbnail of Reflections on Qualitative Research with Muslim Families

Fieldwork in Religion, 2011

Detailed accounts of fieldwork relationships can be helpful reading for those embarking on resear... more Detailed accounts of fieldwork relationships can be helpful reading for those embarking on research with a similar population. In this spirit, the article presents reflections on the process of conducting qualitative research with 60 Muslim families. The main research aim was to describe and explain how children (aged 12 and under) are brought up to be Muslims. Fairly detailed reflections are presented about four main aspects of the research process: research team members’ identities and the implications of these, the recruitment of families to take part in the research, the conduct of fieldwork (interviews and observation) and the use of child-friendly techniques, such as interviews with young children, oral diaries and photo elicitation.

Research paper thumbnail of Responsiveness of 5-HT2C receptors in repeatedly diazepam-injected rats: a behavioral and neurochemical study

Pharmacological reports : PR

The role of 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin; 5-HT)2C receptors in anxiety and the anxiolytic effec... more The role of 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin; 5-HT)2C receptors in anxiety and the anxiolytic effects of drugs is well documented. In view of the withdrawal anxiety associated with repeated diazepam intake, the present study concerns the efficacy of 5-HT2C receptors in rats treated with diazepam. Results show that diazepam injections at a dose of 2 mg/kg daily for two weeks increased weekly food intake and growth rate. Anxiolytic effects of the drug monitored in a light/dark activity box were not significant after single administration. One week and two weeks of administration elicited anxiolytic effects, which were smaller after two weeks of administration as compared to one week, suggesting the development of tolerance to the anxiolytic profile of diazepam. Moreover, three days' withdrawal from repeated administration elicited anxiogenic behavior in the light/dark activity box. The behavioral and neurochemical effects of 1-(m-chlorophenyl)piperazine (m-CPP) (3 mg/kg), a 5-HT2C a...

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of Antibiotics on Bone and Soft Tissue Healing Following Immediate Single-tooth Implant Placement into Sites with Apical Pathology

The Journal of oral implantology, Jan 30, 2014

Overprescription of antibiotics can cause bacterial resistance problems leading to life-threateni... more Overprescription of antibiotics can cause bacterial resistance problems leading to life-threatening illness and public health crisis. Clinicians often believe that antibiotics can prevent dental implant failure and post-operative complications. In conjunction with implant surgery, antibiotics are therefore routinely prescribed for all cases. In this double-blind, randomized controlled trial, the effects of antibiotics on the clinical outcomes of immediate implant placement replacing a tooth with an apical pathology were examined to compare antibiotics (N=10) and placebo (N=10). In each subject, a tooth with a chronic apical lesion was extracted, thoroughly curetted, irrigated, and replaced with single implant with a screw-retained custom provisional abutment/crown. Post-operative pain/discomfort was measured at 1 and 4 week post-surgical follow up visits using visual analog scales. Facial alveolar bone and soft tissue changes were measured using pre- and post-operative cone-beam com...

Research paper thumbnail of Social Cohesion and Civil Law: Marriage, Divorce and Religious Courts

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2011

Research paper thumbnail of Meta-analysis as a Diagnostic Tool for Predicting Disease Onset and/or Activity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Methods in Molecular Biology, 2014

Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is a relatively rare disorder with prevalence rates between 5 a... more Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is a relatively rare disorder with prevalence rates between 5 and 50 per 100,000 population. This means performing any epidemiological analysis in a specific research center is difficult, due to the low number of cases within any one location. There is a need for biomarkers and diagnostic aids to monitor SLE disease activity and severity prior, during, and after treatment. Many specialist lupus clinics worldwide have published trials following in detail small numbers of patients that have been monitored for a disease biomarker, e.g., an autoantibody against a self-molecule in prospective and retrospective studies. They have then attempted to correlate autoantibody levels against an autoantigen with disease activity, e.g., nephritis development. The results are often inconclusive with the conclusion &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;the autoantibody may be useful in monitoring disease activity.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; Meta-analysis is a statistical technique that can be used for combining the findings of multiple studies to add power to any tentative conclusion proposed by individual studies. Here, we describe a method for analyzing biomarkers of interest as predictors of disease activity, using anti-C1q autoantibodies as an example.

Research paper thumbnail of Surgical preparation: anesthesia & hemostasis

Endodontic Topics, 2005

The intra-operative control of pain and hemorrhage represents significant factors that are requir... more The intra-operative control of pain and hemorrhage represents significant factors that are required for modern, effective, and efficient endodontic surgical procedures. This review focuses on these important issues and emphasizes the level of clinical evidence of various studies reporting on interventions to alter pain or hemorrhage. To accomplish this goal, the review will provide an overview of the fundamental properties of local anesthetics and hemostasis and then build upon this foundation to provide evidence-based recommendations for treatment considerations.

Research paper thumbnail of Tolerance in the anxiolytic profile following repeated administration of diazepam but not buspirone is associated with a decrease in the responsiveness of postsynaptic 5-HT-1A receptors

Acta Biologica Hungarica, 2007

To understand the role of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT)-1A receptors in the treatment of ... more To understand the role of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT)-1A receptors in the treatment of anxiety and the development of tolerance to benzodiazepines the present study was designed to monitor the responsiveness of postsynaptic 5-HT-1A receptors following repeated administration of diazepam and buspirone. Results show that tolerance in the anxiolytic profile is produced following repeated administration (2 weeks) of diazepam (2 mg/kg) but not buspirone (0.5 mg/kg). The behavioral effects of 8-OH-DPAT at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg were monitored 3 days after repeated administration of saline or buspirone or diazepam. The results show that 8-OH-DPAT elicited forepaw treading was smaller in repeated diazepam but not repeated buspirone injected rats, while hyperlocomotive effects of 8-OH-DPAT were smaller in both repeated buspirone and repeated diazepam injected rats. The results suggest that postsynaptic 5-HT-1A receptor-dependent responses were attenuated following long-term administration of diazepam but not buspirone. Role of 5-HT-1A receptors in the development of tolerance to the anxiolytic effects of diazepam but not buspirone is discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of Global genetic insight contributed by consanguineous Pakistani families segregating hearing loss

Human mutation, Jan 10, 2018

Consanguineous Pakistani pedigrees segregating deafness have contributed decisively to the discov... more Consanguineous Pakistani pedigrees segregating deafness have contributed decisively to the discovery of 31 of the 68 genes associated with nonsyndromic autosomal recessive hearing loss (HL) worldwide. In this study, we utilized genome-wide genotyping, Sanger and exome sequencing to identify 163 DNA variants in 41 previously reported HL genes segregating in 321 Pakistani families. Of these, 71 (43.6%) variants identified in 29 genes are novel. As expected from genetic studies of disorders segregating in consanguineous families, the majority of affected individuals (94.4%) are homozygous for HL-associated variants, with the other variants being compound heterozygotes. The five most common HL genes in the Pakistani population are SLC26A4, MYO7A, GJB2, CIB2 and HGF, respectively. Our study provides a profile of the genetic etiology of HL in Pakistani families, which will allow for the development of more efficient genetic diagnostic tools, aid in accurate genetic counseling and guide ap...