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Biomedical subjects

A Ghosh

Publications and source records attributed to A Ghosh.

At least 505 records · Page 28Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Simple ultrasonic diagnosis of osteogenesis imperfecta type II in early second trimester.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) Type II was diagnosed accurately in an at-risk fetus at 16 weeks gestation by real-time sonography. The most important findings were shortening, deformity and possibly fracture in the long bones particularly the femurs. Ultrasonic visualization of these signs in a fetus at risk will provide direct evidence in the diagnosis of OI Type II and any additional investigations are not indicated.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of a prenatal screening procedure for beta-thalassaemia carriers in a Chinese population based on the mean corpuscular volume (MCV).

Haemoglobin A2 (HbA2) levels were determined on 25 beta-thalassaemia carriers by the microcolumn method and were found to range from 4.5-7.2 per cent (mean 5.2 +/- 0.82 S.D.). The haemoglobin level (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), plasma ferritin and HbA2 levels were measured on a further 299 consecutive Chinese pregnant women at a gestation of less than 24 weeks. 18 patients (6 per cent) had HbA2 level greater than 4.5 per cent and were diagnosed to be beta-thalassaemic carriers. It was observed that all these patients had a MCV below 75 fl. If this level is selected in a screening procedure based on measurement of MCV alone all beta-thalassaemia carriers could be detected and 11 per cent of the population screened would require HbA2 estimation. At a lower cut-off level of 70 fl, 8 per cent of the population screened would require HbA2 measurement (a decrease of 27 per cent) but the detection rate will be lowered considerably (83 per cent). The high false positive rate at all cut-off levels of MCV was largely due to the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia in the population. Estimation of plasma ferritin level in patients with low MCV will reduce this false positive rate, but there will be a considerable delay in diagnosis in patients with concomitant iron deficiency and beta-thalassaemia. The presence of iron deficiency in beta-thalassaemia carriers did not reduce their HbA2 level below the diagnostic range in this study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Erythrocyte Indices↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Justification of maternal serum alphafetoprotein screening in a population with low incidence of neural tube defects.

A prospective study of maternal serum alphafetoprotein (alpha-FP) screening of 9838 women in an area with low prevalence of neural tube defects and predominance of anencephalics revealed that an intervention point of single serum alpha-FP level above 2.8 times the median was appropriate for this population. Ninety per cent of anencephalics and all fetuses with anterior abdominal wall defects were detected. There was no spina bifida among the population screened. Two per cent of the population screened had serum alpha-FP level above this cut-off level. Thirty-two per cent of twin pregnancies, 7 per cent of small-for-gestational age infants and 9 per cent of pregnancies which ended in either abortion or perinatal death in the population screened also had one serum alpha-FP level above this intervention point. The false positive rate was 66 per cent. This false positive rate was only reduced to 63 per cent if instead of one, two serum alpha-FP level above this intervention point was considered abnormal. Using this strategy there was no significant reduction in the detection rate of fetal anomalies and other pregnancy complications. Because of the predominance of anencephalics in this population the diagnosis of fetal anomaly in women with abnormal serum alpha-FP level was made by ultrasound examination alone. The reason amniocentesis was not performed in these patients was to avoid unnecessary loss of normal pregnancies which may result from this procedure.

Anencephaly↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A randomized controlled trial on the efficacy of alternative treatment regimens for uncomplicated falciparum malaria in a multidrug-resistant falciparum area of Bangladesh--narrowing the options for the National Malaria Control Programme?

We performed an open, randomized chemotherapy trial comparing the recommended first-, second- and third-line drug regimens, as well as mefloquine, for uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Bangladesh in 1996-97. The regimens were chloroquine for 3 days (CQ, Group I), quinine sulphate for 3 days followed by single-dose sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (Q3 + SP, Group II), quinine for 7 days (Q7, Group III), and mefloquine 20 mg/kg single dose (MEF, Group IV). Subjects were symptomatic patients, aged > or = 12 years, with parasite density 500-250,000/mm3 and no history of taking antimalarials during the previous week. Drug administration was supervised and subjects were followed clinically and with blood slides in the hospital for 8 days, then as outpatients on days 14, 21 and 28. A total of 413 subjects (149, 145, 49 and 70 in Groups I-IV, respectively) completed the study. Early treatment failures (persistent or worsening clinical manifestations by day 3 confirmed with parasitological examinations) occurred only in the chloroquine group. RII and RIII parasitological failures occurred in 56%, 12%, 8% and 14% in Group I-IV, respectively. There were significantly more clinical and parasitological failures with chloroquine than with Q3 + SP, which we now recommend as a better (but far from ideal) choice for first-line therapy. The alternative compounds show parasitogical evidence of Plasmodium falciparum resistance. Further studies are needed to determine the optimum treatment for malaria in Bangladesh.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Serodiagnosis of ascariasis with specific IgG4 antibody and its use in an epidemiological study.

In an earlier study Ascaris-specific IgG4 antibody was found to be elevated in cases of ascariasis. However, the usefulness of the elevated levels of this antibody in Ascaris infection as a diagnostic marker has not been well established. In India, in early 1999, blood samples of 83 cases of Ascaris infection, 35 cases of other nematode infection and 53 control subjects (without any helminth infection) were tested for anti-Ascaris IgG4 by ELISA. Further anti-Ascaris IgG4 levels in the blood of Ascaris-infected patients were determined, after eradication of the worms with drugs, at regular intervals to ascertain the duration of elevation of titre of the serological marker following initial infection. This information would indicate the sensitivity of the test as a diagnostic marker for recent infection. Blood samples of 422 rural people were also tested for anti-Ascaris IgG4 titre to ascertain the prevalence of ascariasis in the community. High levels of anti-Ascaris IgG4 antibody (OD 1.246 +/- 0.212) were found in all the 83 Ascaris-infected subjects compared to controls (OD 0.158 +/- 0.047). Anti-Ascaris IgG4 antibody levels of other nematode-infected subjects were comparable to the controls. Anthelmintic treatment of 8 Ascaris-infected subjects caused sequential fall of IgG4 level in their blood, and its titre reached control level within 6 months of deworming. Of 422 individuals from the rural community 229 (54.3%) had significantly high levels of specific IgG4 antibody against Ascaris excretory-secretory antigen, suggesting that they were infested with Ascaris. Thus, this study demonstrated that anti-Ascaris IgG4 antibody is a very sensitive and specific marker for the diagnosis of Ascaris infection. Utilizing this test, a significant number of a rural population could be diagnosed with Ascaris infection in West Bengal, India.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sporotrichosis in Himachal Pradesh (north India).

Sporotrichosis is being increasingly reported from a particular area of Himachal Pradesh, a state in north-west India. A skin-test survey was conducted using sporotrichin and peptido-rhamnomannan antigen among the population in the villages where 2 or more cases of sporotrichosis had been reported and results were compared with those for villages of the same where no case of sporotrichosis had been reported. The study was helped by local doctors, leaders and patients who were cured of sporotrichosis. The delayed-hypersensitivity positivity rates were significantly higher in case villages (range 22.9-40.0%) compared to control area (range 6.5-7.6%). Analysis by age showed that positivity rate increased with increase in age for both sexes. Analysis by occupation showed higher skin-test positivity in populations engaged in horticulture, nursery work, gardening, woodwork (43.2%) and farming (33.9%). The case villages have lower temperature and higher rainfall than the control villages. During the 1-year study period (1996-97), 25 cases of sporotrichosis were diagnosed: 16 cases were referred by doctors from the local area and 9 were from cases suspected during the skin-test survey. This study identifies Kangra district and adjoining areas in Himachal Pradesh as an endemic region for sporotrichosis and highlights the need for evaluation of geo-climatically similar areas.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Age and sex variations in adiposity and central fat distribution among elderly Bengalee Hindus of Calcutta, India.

BACKGROUND: Although a sizeable portion of India's population (13%, over 110 million) is elderly (aged > 55 years) very little information exists on their levels of adiposity and central body fat distribution. AIM: The present study seeks to investigate age and sex variations in adiposity and central fat distribution among urban elderly Bengalee men and women. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 410 (210 men and 200 women) elderly (> 55 years) urban Bengalee Hindu individuals resident in Calcutta, India, was undertaken utilizing various measures of adiposity and central fat distribution. RESULTS: There existed significant sex differences in various anthropometric variables and indices. Age had significant negative association with most variables and indices in both sexes. In general, the associations were much stronger in men. Regression analysis demonstrated that age had significant negative effect on height, sitting height (SH), weight, body mass index (BMI), minimum waist (MWC), maximum hip (MHC) and mid upper arm (MUAC) circumferences and triceps skinfold (TSF), in both sexes. Age also had significant negative impact on conicity index (CI) in men. CONCLUSIONS: The present investigation revealed that there is a significant inverse age trend in adiposity among urban elderly Bengalee Hindus. Moreover, there existed sex differences in the effect of age on various anthropometric measures.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A sequential scanning of the immune efficiency in astrocytoma (Grade I to Grade Iii), meningioma and secondary glioma patients with and without therapeutic scheduling.

PURPOSE: Glioma induces immune suppression. However, data revealing the immune status in glioma patients with sequential therapeutic interventions is missing. Thus, the study aims at evaluating the sequential immune status of glioma bearing patients (Astrocytoma Grade I to Grade III) receiving conventional therapeutic measures. The results were compared with the immune status of metastatic secondary glioma and meningioma patients where there is minimal immune suppression and the effect of therapeutic intervention on the above score. METHODS: Functional immune parameters of peripheral blood lymphocytes were assayed by CD2 receptors enumeration through E-rosetting and lymphocyte cytotoxicity assay and assessing the generation of reactive oxygen species by NBT assay of peripheral blood macrophages in patient groups bearing Astrocytoma (Grade I to Grade III), meningioma and secondary glioma. RESULTS: Patients bearing Astrocytoma (all 3 grades) showed maximum immune suppression as compared to the normal subjects, diseased meningioma controls, and secondary glioma. Therapeutic interventions viz. radiotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy after surgery and chemotherapy could not recover the suppressed activity of the CD2 bearing lymphocytes and that of peripheral blood macrophages. However, therapeutic scheduling could recover the functional activity of the CD8 bearing lymphocytes and the CD56 NK cells from that of tumor bearing patients. CONCLUSION: Astrocytoma and not meningioma is capable of causing immunesuppression. As the tumor progresses from Grade I to Grade III, a linear reduction in the functional efficacy of immunocytes is seen to occur. Radiotherapy, surgery, and chemotherapy also induces an inhibitory effect towards the host immune system. The inhibitory effect of tumor as well as of therapy were mainly directed towards the CD2 bearing lymphocyte population and the peripheral blood macrophage population.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sleeve thrombus fibrosis causing neck pain.

BACKGROUND: Central venous catheter occlusion due to thrombus formation is the most common cause for malfunction of long-term indwelling catheters. The exact pathology and pathogenesis of this common complication is misunderstood because of an array of terms being used interchangeably in the literature. This article identifies the pathogenesis and symptoms and gives suggestions for the treatment of central venous catheter-related thrombosis. METHODS: Our case report is of a girl who had a percutaneously placed left subclavian central venous line attached to her vascuport. After 9 months she developed severe pain over the catheter tubing on injection into the port. Surgical exploration of the catheter tubing in the infraclavicular region demonstrated that the pain was due to retrograde flow around the catheter within a sleeve thrombus. CONCLUSIONS: In this type of patient, all precautions should be taken to minimize the risk of thrombus formation, including considering the prophylactic use of anticoagulants.

Catheterization, Central Venous↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of tumour regression on serum and tissue copper concentration in mice bearing induced fibrosarcoma.

Serum and tissue copper concentration was determined in mice bearing induced fibrosarcoma after successful chemotherapeutic treatment. The results showed a significant depression in copper concentration in the serum and tumour tissue after treatment with anti-cancer drugs. However, the liver copper concentration showed no significant change in treated groups of mice compared to before treatment.

Animals↗