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Biomedical subjects

A K Sharma

Publications and source records attributed to A K Sharma.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Modulation of xenobiotic metabolism and oxidative stress in chronic streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats fed with Momordica charantia fruit extract.

We studied the long-term effects of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on tissue-specific cytochrome P450 (CYP) and glutathione-dependent (GSH-dependent) xenobiotic metabolism in rats. In addition, we also studied the effect of antidiabetic Momordica charantia (karela) fruit-extract feeding on the modulation of xenobiotic metabolism and oxidative stress in rats with diabetes. Our results have indicated an increase (35-50%) in CYP4A-dependent lauric acid hydroxylation in liver, kidney, and brain of diabetic rats. About a two-fold increase in CYP2E-dependent hepatic aniline hydroxylation and a 90-100% increase in CYP1A-dependent ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase activities in kidney and brain were also observed. A significant increase (80%) in aminopyrene N-demethylase activity was observed only in rat kidney, and a decrease was observed in the liver and brain of diabetic rats. A significant increase (77%) in NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation (LPO) in kidney of diabetic rats was also observed. On the other hand, a decrease in hepatic LPO was seen during chronic diabetes. During diabetes an increased expression of CYP1A1, CYP2E1, and CYP4A1 isoenzymes was also seen by Western blot analysis. Karela-juice feeding modulates the enzyme expression and catalytic activities in a tissue- and isoenzyme-specific manner. A marked decrease (65%) in hepatic GSH content and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity and an increase (about two-fold) in brain GSH and GST activity was observed in diabetic rats. On the other hand, renal GST was markedly reduced, and GSH content was moderately higher than that of control rats. Western blot analyses using specific antibodies have confirmed the tissue-specific alterations in the expression of GST isoenzymes. Karela-juice feeding, in general, reversed the effect of chronic diabetes on the modulation of both P450-dependent monooxygenase activities and GSH-dependent oxidative stress related LPO and GST activities. These results have suggested that the modulation of xenobiotic metabolism and oxidative stress in various tissues may be related to altered metabolism of endogenous substrates and hormonal status during diabetes. The findings may have significant implications in elucidating the therapeutic use of antidiabetic drugs and management of Type 1 diabetes in chronic diabetic patients.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Effect of preservation techniques and food additives on staphylococcal thermonuclease.

Staphylococcal TNase was found to retain its activity fully even after exposure to chilling and refrigeration temperatures for 24 h. It was not inhibited by p-hydroxy benzoic acid, sorbic acid, methylpropyl p-benzoic acid and sodium nitrite in the concentration range of 0.04 to 0.5%, whereas it was inhibited by 100 ppm of butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA), 200 ppm of butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT), and 300 ppm of propyl gallate. There was not complete inhibition of S. aureus and TNase by tocopherol (TP) and ascorbic acid (AA) even at concentration of 300 ppm. These results indicate that TNase can be used as an index of potentially enterotoxin producing S. aureus contamination in foods subjected to chilling, refrigeration as well as in foods containing common preservatives and antioxidants.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula: a review of 25 years' experience.

During a 25-year period (1972-1996), 585 patients with esophageal atresia with or without tracheoesophageal fistula were treated at the Department of Pediatric Surgery, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, India. Increasing awareness of the anomaly has led to early detection and referral with fewer pulmonary complications. For purposes of analysis the period has been divided into five phases, with a steady decline in overall mortality observed from 95.4% in phase 1 to 41% in phase V. Although postoperative complications have also shown a declining trend, delay in diagnosis, prematurity, low birth weight, delayed arrival at the surgical centers, sepsis, pulmonary complications including pneumonitis, and inadequate nursing care all continue to contribute substantially to lower the survival in developing countries such as ours.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed2000

Congenital urethral fistula.

A case of congenital urethral fistula with an intact glanular urethra without chordee is reported with a discussion of the possible etiology and one-stage repair.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed2000

Study in sexuality of medical college students in India.

PURPOSE: In India, talking about sex is taboo. Little is known about the knowledge, attitude, and sexual behavior of adolescents. This study was carried out with the purpose of examining: (a) the knowledge of medical students about sex, (b) the sources of learning about sex, and (c) the sexual behavior and practices of young adults. METHODS: This study was carried out among the undergraduate students of a medical college in Delhi. A pretested, semiclosed-type questionnaire was voluntarily filled out by the students. Confidentiality and secrecy was assured. RESULTS: Of 500 students, 73% participated in the study. Knowledge regarding sexual intercourse, masturbation, contraception, and sexually transmitted diseases was satisfactory among 70%, 74.8%, 83.5%, and 92.6% of the respondents, respectively. Common source of knowledge about sex were friends (74.5%), pornographic films (56.2%), and books and magazines (55.1%). Only one fifth could communicate with teachers, parents, and persons of the other gender about sex. About 417 of the students viewed homosexuality as normal behavior. Sexual intercourse had been experienced by 11.8% of respondents. The mean age of first sexual intercourse was 17.5 years. Eighty-five percent strongly favored introduction of sex education at school level. CONCLUSION: Evidence is provided for the need to improve knowledge about different aspects of sex among a sample of Indian medical students.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Pathological lesions in lambs fed raw or processed cottonseed meal.

Thirty male lambs of 3-4 months of age, were assigned equally to five dietary treatments in a completely randomized design and fed isonitrogenous and isocaloric concentrate mixtures containing 30% de-oiled peanut meal (DPNM) or 40%, cottonseed meal, which was raw, cooked for 45 min or treated with either 1%, calcium hydroxide or iron (1:3, free gossypol: Fe). The mixtures containing raw or variously processed CSM replaced about 50% of the nitrogen of the reference concentrate mixture. These concentrate mixtures were fed to meet 80% of the animals' crude protein requirements along with ad libitum feeding of maize (Zea mays) hay for 180 days. The free gossypol content of the raw cottonseed meal (0.27%) was reduced to 0.16% 0.20% and 0.21% by the cooking, Ca(OH)2 and iron treatments, respectively. At the end of the experiment, the tissues of various organs were fixed in 10% formol saline. embedded in paraffin and sectioned at 4-5 microm thickness, and duplicate sections were stained with either haematoxylin and eosin or Perl's Prussian blue. The lambs fed diets incorporating raw, cooked, Ca(OH)2- or iron-treated cottonseed meal consumed respectively 302, 215, 250 and 222 mg free gossypol/day. No morbidity. mortality or gross lesions were observed in any organs and the histopathological lesions due to cottonseed meal were limited to the testes and epididymis. Spermatogonial cells were absent in the majority of the seminiferous tubules of testes from lambs fed raw cottonseed meal. Most seminiferous tubules were collapsed, with a reduced wall thickness, owing to there being fewer germ cell layers and vacuolation of the basal cells. The epithelium of the epididymal ductules was degenerated, desquamated to a variable degree with hyperplastic changes, and they were devoid of spermatozoa. Most lambs fed any of the processed cottonseed meals did not show any of these lesions, and such lesions as occurred in affected lambs in these groups were relatively mild. Iron pigments were deposited around the portal areas of the liver, the tip of intestinal villi and the spleen of lambs fed the iron-treated cottonseed meal diet. Cooking or treatment with 1%, Ca(OH)2 effectively minimized the toxic effects of free gossypol.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2000

Effective therapy for severe Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis with prednisone and azathioprine: a clinical and histopathologic study.

OBJECTIVES: To validate a scoring system to assess the severity of renal lesions and to correlate histology with clinical findings. We also examined the efficacy of treatment with prednisone (1 to 2 mg/kg/d) and azathioprine (1 to 2 mg/kg/d) for severe Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) nephritis. METHODS: Twenty patients were evaluated retrospectively. All underwent biopsy before treatment, and 13 underwent biopsy after therapy. We developed a scale based on glomerular, tubulointerstitial (TI), and vascular changes and assigned all specimens acuity, chronicity, and TI scores. The outcomes of 17 patients were compared with those of a historical control group. RESULTS: Chronicity score at initial biopsy increased with increasing delay between onset of renal involvement and first biopsy (rho = 0.55, P =.016) but did not progress after treatment was initiated. Both acuity (rho = 0.57,P =. 016) and TI (rho = 0.69, P =.003) scores correlated with clinical severity at first biopsy. The TI score correlated negatively with serum albumin (rho = -.60, P <.01). Significantly more patients in the study group than in the control group had a favorable outcome (15 [88%] of 17 vs 32 [54%] of 59, P =.011). CONCLUSIONS: Our scale reflects disease activity and highlights the importance of TI changes in severe HSP nephritis. Outcome comparisons indicate that early treatment with prednisone and azathioprine prevents progression of chronic changes and improves outcome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Effect of gamma irradiation on staphylococcal thermonuclease (TNase).

Stability of staphylococcal thermonuclease (TNase) on exposure to irradiation though expected has not been experimentally established. In the present work. TNase in presence of standard growth media as well as dairy and meat products was found to be completely resistant even at a dose of 10 kGy indicating that the TNase can be used as an indicator of Staphylococcal aureus contamination even in foods in which S. aureus have been destroyed by irradiation. This new application of TNase is being reported for the first time.

Culture Media↗
PubMed2000

Myasthenia gravis and recurrent falls in an elderly patient.

PRESENTATION: An elderly man had recurrent hospital admissions with falls. OUTCOME: Acetylcholine receptor antibodies and single-fibre electromyogram were useful in the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis. Treatment prevented further hospital admissions.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed2000

Reliability of measurements of muscle tone and muscle power in stroke patients.

OBJECTIVES: to establish the reliability of the modified Ashworth scale for measuring muscle tone in a range of muscle groups (elbow, wrist, knee and ankle; flexors and extensors) and of the Medical Research Council scale for measuring muscle power in the same muscle groups and their direct antagonists. DESIGN: a cross-sectional study involving repeated measures by two raters. We estimated reliability using the kappa statistic with quadratic weights (Kw). SETTING: an acute stroke ward, a stroke rehabilitation unit and a continuing care facility. SUBJECTS: people admitted to hospital with an acute stroke-35 patients, median age 73 (interquartile range 65-80), 20 men and 15 women. RESULTS: inter- and intra-rater agreement for the measurement of power was good to very good for all tested muscle groups (Kw = 0.84-0.96, Kw = 0.70-0.96). Inter- and intra-rater agreement for the measurement of tone in the elbow, wrist and knee flexors was good to very good (Kw = 0.73-0.96, Kw = 0.77-0.94). Inter- and intra-rater agreement for the measurement of tone in the ankle plantarflexors was moderate to good (Kw = 0.45-0.51, Kw = 0.59-0.64). CONCLUSIONS: the Medical Research Council scale was reliable in the tested muscle groups. The modified Ashworth scale demonstrated reliability in all tested muscle groups except the ankle plantarflexors. If reliable measurement of tone at the ankle is required for a specific purpose (e.g. to measure the effect of therapeutic intervention), further work will be necessary.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Comparison of the Humphrey swedish interactive thresholding algorithm (SITA) and full threshold strategies.

PURPOSE: To compare the Swedish interactive thresholding algorithm (SITA) strategy with the full threshold strategy in routine clinical practice. METHODS: Using the Humphrey visual field analyzer model 750 (Allergan Humphrey, San Leandro, CA), 108 subjects were tested with 24-2 SITA (version A9) and 24-2 full threshold strategies. Test results were compared for time taken and reliability and on the basis of seven criteria of abnormality. RESULTS: The SITA required on average 48.8% less time than the full threshold strategy. Patient reliability parameters were somewhat better with SITA. There was a strong correlation between mean deviation and pattern standard deviation. Average threshold sensitivity at each point was increased by 1.31 dB with SITA, but greater differences were seen at points with lower sensitivity. Using the full threshold strategy as our standard for comparison, the sensitivity of SITA varied from 83.0% to 93.2% in detecting the variously defined abnormalities. Fields shown as normal with full threshold strategy corresponded with those found to be normal with SITA in 79.0 to 96.3% cases depending on criteria for abnormality. There were a few cases in which SITA suggested an early abnormality but results of full threshold testing remained normal. On average, the size and depth of scotomas decreased slightly with SITA, but this difference was not statistically significant. Of the 70 patients surveyed about their preference, 65 (92.9%) preferred SITA. CONCLUSION: Full threshold and SITA strategies are comparable in detecting glaucomatous defects. The SITA strategy requires significantly less time to perform and is a satisfactory alternative to full threshold algorithms in clinical practice for diagnosis and management of glaucoma.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Trichotillomania and trichophagia leading to trichobezoar.

A 14-year-old female presented with the complaints of loss of hair, scalp pruritus, and pain in the abdomen. On careful work-up, she was found to have trichotillomania as well as trichophagia. Investigations also revealed a trichobezoar which completely filled the stomach. Hemogram showed moderate hypochromic anemia. Her detailed psychiatric profile showed a few additional features like obsessive hand washing, knuckle cracking, nose picking and body rocking. Her trichobezoar was removed surgically, and she had an uneventful post-operative recovery. She is being maintained on fluoxetine and is doing well. The role of a multi-disciplinary approach to trichotillomania patients is highlighted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Haemodynamic effects of pan masala in healthy volunteers.

OBJECTIVES: We studied acute haemodynamic effects of pan masala (powdered mixture of areca nut, slaked lime, catechu, and condiments) in healthy volunteers. METHODS: Fifty one males (mean age 28.6 +/- 10 years) were evaluated. One pouch (4 g) of pan masala without tobacco was given to each subject under fasting state and effects on pulse and blood pressure (BP) recorded. RESULTS: At baseline the pulse rate was 75.1 +/- 9.0 per minute, systolic BP was 119.1 +/- 10.8 mm Hg, and diastolic BP was 78.0 +/- 7.5. The pulse rate increased to 87.5 +/- 11.4 at ten minutes (+16.9 +/- 12.6%, p < 0.001) and fell to 76.7 +/- 9.1 at 30 minutes (p = ns). Systolic BP increased to 122.3 +/- 11.7 mm Hg at 10 minutes (+2.73 +/- 5.1%, p < 0.001) and was 120.8 +/- 10.8 at 30 minutes; while diastolic BP was 80.8 +/- 7.3 at 10 minutes (+3.83 +/- 6.1%, p < 0.001) and 79.4 +/- 7.6 at 30 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Pan masala intake causes acute increase in pulse and BP.

Adult↗