Renal transplantation--magnitude of the problem.
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Humans↗
Biomedical subjects
A K Sharma
Publications and source records attributed to A K Sharma.
Hydatid disease of the thyroid gland--(a case report).
Hydatid disease of the thyroid gland, presenting as a solitary thyroid nodule, is being reported below. Pre-operative investigations, including thyroid isotope scanning and aspiration of the nodule, did not help in establishing the diagnosis which was later confirmed by histological examination. Post-operative investigations revealed it to be an isolated involvement of the thyroid gland.
Adult↗
Lymphoproliferation and in vitro antibody synthesis in leprosy patients.
An in vitro system to assess B-cell function in leprosy patients is described. In vitro lymphoproliferation and antibody synthesis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in response to pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and Formalin-treated Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (FSA) from 31 leprosy patients and 13 healthy controls were studied. DNA synthesis was induced by both PWM and FSA in PBMC from all of the leprosy patients and control subjects. Lepromatous leprosy (LL) patients' cells showed higher responses to both PWM and FSA. However, these increases were not statistically significant. The levels of secreted IgM, IgG, or IgA were examined in the 7-day culture supernatants of PBMC cultured with or without PWM or FSA using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Wide individual variations were observed in in vitro antibody synthesis. IgM secretion in PBMC from normal subjects and various groups of leprosy patients in response to PWM and FSA was comparable. In vitro IgG secretion in response to PWM was the highest in cells from LL patients; it was significantly decreased in cells from tuberculoid leprosy (TT) patients (p less than 0.01). The levels in cells from borderline leprosy (BB) patients were intermediate in response to the same mitogen. Cells from leprosy patients as a group showed a higher spontaneous secretion of IgA in comparison with cells from normal subjects. Overall, the in vitro Ig secretion by PBMC in different patient groups appears to reproduce the spectrum of antibody levels observed in patients in vivo. Thus, the present in vitro culture system may help to delineate the mechanisms of B-cell dysregulation in leprosy.
Antibodies, Bacterial↗
Do mercury and aneroid sphygmomanometers give identical readings at high altitude?
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Altitude↗
An ultrastructural study of donovanosis.
In an ultrastructural study undertaken on donovanosis, the inflammatory response was studied along with the fine structure of causative organisms, Calymmatobacterium granulomatis. Macrophages were seen to be activated and showed presence of numerous filopodia and increase in the number of lysosomes and rough endoplasmic reticulum. Many cells showed vacuoles of varying size in the cytoplasm some of which contained the organisms. Other cells seen included plasma cells, polymorphonuclear cells and sparse lymphocytes. In one case few multinucleated giant cells and dendritic cells with long cytoplasmic processes making cell-cell contact with other inflammatory cells were seen. Such cells have not been described in donovanosis so far. The organisms showed surface structures like pili and vesicles, the role of which is yet to be clearly understood.
Calymmatobacterium↗
Crystal structure and molecular conformation of N-Boc-L-Pro-dehydro-Leu-OCH3.
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Dipeptides↗
Genetic toxicology--an introduction.
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Chromosome Aberrations↗
Management of vesico-uterine fistulae: a report of six cases.
Six cases of vesico-uterine fistulae caused by cesarean section in four and pelvic trauma in two cases were treated during the past 15 years. Both the cases of vesico-uterine fistulae due to pelvic trauma and one case of vesico-uterine fistula due to cesarean section in whom the fistula was detected in the early post-operative period, could be managed successfully by suprapubic urinary diversion and control of infection. Two patients who were seen more than 1 year after the cesarean section, were cured by trans-abdominal closure of the fistula with omental interposition. One patient who reported 3 months after the cesarean section was managed by estrogen and progesterone-induced amenorrhea. The management protocol for vesico-uterine fistula should thus be individualised taking into consideration the etiology, and time interval between its occurrence and institution of treatment regimen.
Cesarean Section↗
Ultrastructural observations on myelinated fibres in experimental diabetes: effect of the aldose reductase inhibitor ponalrestat given alone or in conjunction with insulin therapy.
Six groups of rats were studied over a 12-week period: onset and end controls, untreated diabetics, ponalrestat-treated diabetics, insulin-treated diabetics, and diabetics treated with ponalrestat and insulin. The concentrations of glucose, sorbitol and fructose significantly increased and that of myo-inositol significantly decreased in the sciatic nerve of untreated diabetic animals. Ponalrestat administration completely normalized sorbitol levels and partially corrected fructose and myo-inositol concentrations without altering nerve glucose levels. The biochemical abnormalities were also corrected in both the insulin-treated and insulin and ponalrestat-treated diabetic animals. Myelinated fibre cross-sectional areas and axonal areas were significantly less in the tibial nerve of diabetic animals as compared with age-matched controls. Insulin treatment partially corrected the reduction in fibre and axonal area but teased fibre preparations showed an excess of axonal degeneration as compared with controls, untreated diabetics and ponalrestat-treated diabetics. Ponalrestat given alone or in conjunction with insulin therapy did not correct the reduction in fibre or axonal area and single isolated fibres from diabetic animals treated with ponalrestat and insulin showed a marked excess of axonal degeneration, probably related to hypoglycaemia. The study fails to reveal any significant beneficial effect of aldose reductase inhibition on the structural abnormalities in peripheral nerve in experimental diabetes.
Aldehyde Reductase↗
Hypoglycemic neuropathy in experimental diabetes.
Morphological and electrophysiological observations were made over 4 weeks on 5 groups of 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats. These were comprised of controls, untreated diabetics, and diabetic animals in which sustained hypoglycemia, moderate hypoglycemia, or normoglycemia was induced by continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy. Teased fiber studies showed a marked increase in the number of myelinated fibers undergoing axonal degeneration and regeneration in the tibial nerve of severe hypoglycemic and also in moderate hypoglycemic animals but not in controls, untreated diabetic and normoglycemic groups. There was also a significant correlation between episodes of hypoglycemia (less than or equal to 2.0 mmol/l) and the prevalence of axonal degeneration and regeneration in CSII-treated diabetics. Motor nerve conduction velocity was significantly reduced in the moderate and severe hypoglycemic groups and also in untreated diabetic animals when compared with controls. However, it was significantly improved in the normoglycemic group over the untreated diabetic and severe hypoglycemic groups. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated that severe or even mild hypoglycemia produced a detrimental effect on peripheral nerve structure and function in experimental diabetes. Therefore, it may be desirable to avoid even asymptomatic hypoglycemia in the management of diabetes.
Animals↗
Planned short-stay admission to a geriatric unit: one aspect of respite care.
Our unit aims to provide planned short-term in-patient care for any disabled elderly person who requests it. The patients using the service over a 12-month period are described. Most were heavily disabled and it seems unlikely that their carers could cope at home without the opportunity of a break from time to time. The service is cheap, as relatively few beds are needed and those mostly in the summer. Morbidity amongst patients (and their carers) was high but we could find no evidence to support recent suggestions that admitting such patients was harmful.
Aged↗
Determination of menadione in an animal feed using supercritical fluid extraction and HPLC with electrochemical detector.
Menadione (vitamin K3) is extracted from spiked rat chow using supercritical fluid carbon dioxide at 8000 psi and 60 degrees C. Quantitative extraction requires only 20 min. The extraction does not suffer from the problems associated with conventional solvent extraction of lipophilic materials from animal feeds. Menadione is determined in the extract, which does not require further cleanup, using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with reductive mode electrochemical detection at a silver electrode at -0.75 V vs. calomel. The minimum detectable quantity by the detector is 125 pg of menadione, and the response is linear over at least 4 orders of magnitude; however, the minimum quantity extractable is about 20 micrograms/g of feed. Repetitive extracts of a spiked feed sample over a five-day period show an average recovery of 90.5% with a relative standard deviation of 2.2% at the 1 mg/g level.
Animal Feed↗
Computerised tomography in acquired cystic disease of the kidneys.
A unique form of acquired cystic disease develops in the kidneys with end-stage renal failure. The cystic disease usually remains asymptomatic, but haemorrhage or neoplasia may occur. Computerised tomography rather than ultrasound is the most reliable investigation in detecting the presence of tumours in this condition.
Aged↗
Analogues of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) containing dehydroalanine in 6th position.
(Phe5, delta Ala6)-LH-RH and des-Gly10(Phe5, delta Ala6)-LH-RH ethylamide, two analogues of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH), have been synthesised using fragment condensation approach in solution phase with minimum protection of the side chains. The presence of dehydroalanine in peptide fragments was confirmed by 1H n.m.r. and chemical analysis. Both the analogues were found to be inactive in comparison to LH-RH, indicating that alpha,beta-dehydrogenation of alanine in 6th position is not tolerated and suggesting that flexibility at this position may be crucial for the retention of biological activity.
Alanine↗
A new technique for orcein banding with acid treatment.
A rapid method for banding plant chromosomes using hydrochloric acid with orcein is suggested. The technique has been successful in both dioecious and monoecious families with short chromosomes. It involves pretreatment with an oxyquinoline-paradichlorobenzene mixture, fixation in acetic ethanol and treatment with hydrochloric acid at 60 C followed by staining with orcein. Stained chromosome bands and interbands are reproducible and species specific.
Chromosome Banding↗
A rapid screening technique for detection of diosgenin through in situ cytophotometry.
Costus speciosus (Koenig) Sm. contains diosgenin, an important drug in family planning programs in India and underdeveloped countries. A simple, rapid method has been developed for in situ quantitation of diosgenin in this plant. The method is based on the formation of a suitable colored product of diosgenin in frozen sections of fresh material followed by determination of its optical density by in situ cytophotometry. The staining reagent is a combination of anisaldehyde, sulfuric acid and acetic acid. A positive correlation has been observed between cytophotometric diosgenin estimates and those derived from thin layer chromatography of extracts. The method is convenient for routine screening of plants for steroidal sapogenins such as diosgenin.
Acetates↗
Interactions of climatic factors affecting milk yield and composition.
Objectives were to evaluate effects of interactions of maximum temperature, minimum relative humidity, and solar radiation on milk yield and constituent traits. Effects of climate variables and their interactions were significant but small in most cases. Second order regression models were developed for several variables. Six were examined in detail: Holstein and Jersey milk yields, Holstein fat and Feulgen-DNA reflectance percent, and Jersey protein percent and yield. Maximum temperature had greatest influence on each response, followed by minimum relative humidity and solar radiation. Optimum conditions for milk production were at maximum temperatures below 19.4 degrees C, increasing solar radiation, and minimum relative humidity between 33.4 and 78.2% (cool sunny days, moderate humidity). Maximum Holstein fat percent of 3.5% was predicted for maximum temperatures below 30.8 degrees C, minimum relative humidity below 89%, and solar radiation below 109 Langleys; actual mean Holstein fat percent was 3.35%. Optimum climatic conditions for Jersey protein percent were at maximum temperature of 10.6 degrees C with solar radiation at 300 Langleys and relative humidity at 16% (cool sunny days, low humidity). Because noteworthy interactions existed between climate effects, response surface methodology was suitable for determining optimum climatic conditions for milk production.
Animals↗
Concentration-time interactions in hydrogen sulphide toxicity in rats.
Concentration-time interactions were investigated in young male and female Sprague-Dawley, Long Evans and Fischer-344 rats exposed to hydrogen sulphide for two, four or six hours. Higher concentrations caused more deaths, with no significant difference for duration of exposure. A significant sex effect was noted with 30% mortality in males and 20% in females, with no significant difference among strains. Changes in weight were significant: increasing with concentration, higher in males than in females, different among strains (Fischer-344 less than Sprague Dawley less than Long Evans), and affected by duration of exposure. Lethal concentration values (LC50 and LC10) were estimated, for the pooled data set (n = 456); the probit equation was Y = -5.74749 + 3.8259X where X is log10 dose of hydrogen sulphide in parts per million. The LC50/LC10 values were 644/298 parts per million (902/417 mg m-3) respectively. Individual probit analyses were also performed for strain, hours of exposure and sex. The LC50 and LC10 values for male, female and strain were not different. Significant differences were observed among LC50/LC10 values for hours of exposure (2 h = 587/549 parts per million, 822/769 mg m-3; 4 h = 501/422 parts per million, 701/591 mg m-3; 6 h = 335/299 parts per million, 469/491 mg m-3). There was no effect of spatial position in the exposure chamber on the distribution of mortality. All rats of all strains dying had severe pulmonary edema.
Analysis of Variance↗