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Biomedical subjects

A Kaul

Publications and source records attributed to A Kaul.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

In vitro study of the intrinsic toxicity of synthetic surfaces to cells.

A trypan blue inclusion assay was used to measure cell death on poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS), polyethylene (PE), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polyurethanes, glass, and glow-discharge-treated polystyrene or poly(ethylene terephthalate). Cell lines used were bovine aortic endothelial, 3T3, mouse peritoneal macrophage, and BHK cells. In the absence of proteins in the media, PDMS, PE, PMMA, and some polyurethanes were consistently found to induce cell death. This toxic effect disappeared if the cells were seeded in serum-containing medium or if concentrated solutions of proteins (albumin, IgG, or fibronectin) were preadsorbed on the materials. The substrate toxicity appeared to be due to the physical properties of the substrate and not to the release of toxic leachables.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1994

Effect of pap copy number and receptor specificity on virulence of fimbriated Escherichia coli in a murine urinary tract colonization model.

Escherichia coli FN506 containing pap genes that encode two different P fimbriae adherence specificity types were tested for virulence in a murine urinary colonization model. Strains containing adherence genes on either high copy or low copy plasmids were compared. Bacteria that harbored the adherence genes on high copy plasmids colonized mouse kidneys less well than bacteria with the same adherence genes in low copy even though the high copy strains exhibited greater hemagglutination capacity. Bacteria with either type of P fimbriae were able to colonize but pap-2+ bacteria showed increased colonizing capacity when strains containing pap-1 or pap-2 genes on low copy plasmids were compared. Bacteria containing plasmids with both adherence specificities had a similar colonizing capacity as bacteria with either type separately.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Feasibility of high-resolution, low-dose chest CT in evaluating the pediatric chest.

Thin-section, high-resolution (1.0/1.5 mm thick slices), low-dose chest CT scans were performed in 55 infants and children. The studies were carried out with 1- and 2-s scan (data acquisition) times using a high-resolution (bone) algorithm. Although there was some motion artifact, the studies provided valuable information for evaluating diffuse parenchymal lung disease. The thin slices provided finer detail and more diagnostic information than images representing thicker sections. Most studies were performed using between 40 and 80 mAs. It is estimated that the patients' radiation exposure was 20% that of conventional high-resolution CT (HRCT) and 57% that of routine chest CT. Diagnostic HRCT scans can be obtained in infants and young children without the need for suspended respiration or specialized ultrafast CT scanners.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

The effect of hydroxyethyl starch and other plasma volume substitutes on endothelial cell activation; an in vitro study.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of medium molecular weight hydroxyethyl starches on endothelial cell and neutrophil activation in vitro. SETTING: Laboratory analysis. METHODS: The effects of albumin and hydroxyethyl starch on the neutrophil adhesion molecule (CD11bCD18), with and without lipopolysaccharide stimulation, were studied in whole blood. E-selectin expression on human umbilical vein endothelial cells was stimulated with lipopolysaccharide alone and in the presence of either albumin or hydroxyethyl starch. The effect of albumin and hydroxyethyl starches on rapid endothelial cell activation was studied using von Willebrand factor release as a marker. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Hydroxyethyl starches but not albumin inhibited stimulated vWF release in a dose dependent manner. No effect was seen on endothelial E-selectin or neutrophil CD11bCD18 expression. CONCLUSIONS: these results suggest a possible beneficial role of hydroxyethyl starches in the inhibition of endothelial activation thus preventing neutrophil adhesion during sepsis syndrome.

Cell Adhesion↗
PubMed1994

Efficacy of primary chemoprophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia during the first year of life in infants infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

To evaluate the efficacy of primary chemoprophylaxis in preventing Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in infants with perinatal human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection during the first year of life, we conducted a retrospective chart review of infants with human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection born at New York University Medical Center-Bellevue Hospital Center, in New York. Between March 1989 and March 1993, 24 infants received primary chemoprophylaxis with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in the first year of life and 24 infants did not receive primary prophylaxis. The CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts in the two groups did not differ during the first year of life. The median age at the time of initiation of prophylaxis was 3 months, and the average duration of prophylaxis was 5.5 months. Among the infants who had not received prophylaxis, five cases of PCP were diagnosed at a median age of 5 months; in contrast, no cases of PCP were observed in the infants receiving prophylaxis (log-rank test, p = 0.017). The probability of surviving after 1 year of age was 92% for the children who received prophylaxis and 74% for those who did not (log-rank test, p = 0.035). These data indicate that chemoprophylaxis is highly effective in preventing primary PCP and improving survival time in infants with human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1994

Maternal predictors of perinatal human immunodeficiency virus transmission. The New York City Perinatal HIV Transmission Collaborative Study Group.

This analysis sought to identify characteristics of pregnant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected women that predict mother-to-child HIV-1 transmission. Pregnant and immediately postpartum women at risk for HIV were enrolled at obstetric and pediatric care settings in New York City from 1986 to 1992. Demographic and behavioral characteristics, clinical illness, T lymphocyte subsets, immunoglobulin concentration and syphilis serology were collected on the women. Infants were followed to determine HIV infection classification according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for HIV-1 in children. Transmission rates were calculated for women who gave birth more than 15 months before the analysis. Of 172 HIV-1-infected women with known outcome 49 (28%) had infected infants. The transmission rate (TR) was significantly higher among women with < 280 CD4+ cells/microliters (lowest CD4+ quartile) than with CD4+ counts > 280 (48% vs. 22%; P = 0.004; odds ratio, 3.4; 95% confidence interval (1.5, 7.8)); a similar trend was seen by CD4+% quartile. No difference in TR was seen comparing women by CD8+ count quartile but marginally higher TR was seen among women with CD8+% > or = 51% than with CD8+% < 51% (TR = 41% vs. 24%; P = 0.076; odds ratio, 2.2; confidence interval (1.0, 5.1)). The highest TR, 62% was seen in women with both CD8+ count above the median and CD4+ count in the lowest quartile. No significant difference in TR was seen between women with and without HIV-related illness, although the TR was 53% among women hospitalized in the previous year for pneumonia compared with 25% in others (P = 0.03). TR was somewhat lower in women who delivered by cesarean section than vaginally (entire cohort: 18% vs. 32%, P = 0.11; prenatal enrollees only, 17% vs. 38%, P = 0.045). No factor or combination of factors was both highly sensitive and specific for predicting mother-to-child HIV transmission. A possible relationship between transmission and mode of delivery deserves further investigation.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1994

Streptococcus pneumoniae in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected children.

The purpose of this study was to characterize systemic Streptococcus pneumoniae disease in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected children. All cases of bacteremia and meningitis caused by S. pneumoniae among children less than 18 years old were collected by review of the Microbiology Laboratory records at the Bellevue Hospital Center during the period August 1, 1978, through July 31, 1993. There were 31 bouts of systemic S. pneumoniae disease in 19 of 235 HIV-1-infected children cared for by the Pediatric Infectious Disease staff and 116 bouts in 113 children not known to be HIV-1-infected. Four of the 19 HIV-1-infected children had multiple episodes of S. pneumoniae bacteremia as compared with 3 of 113 in the general population (P = 0.008). The frequency of serotypes and distribution of infections by season of the year did not differ between the 2 groups. The median ages at the time of the S. pneumoniae infection were 1.8 and 1.1 years for the HIV-1-infected children and the general population of children, respectively, when those children with multiple episodes were included for their initial episode only (P = 0.06). In the HIV-1-infected patients, 10 episodes were associated with pneumonia, 5 with pneumonia and otitis media, 5 with otitis media only, 1 with pneumonia and meningitis, 1 with meningitis only and 1 with periorbital cellulitis; 5 had no apparent focus of infection. One episode of pneumonia was complicated by lung abscess and there were 2 deaths. Most HIV-1-infected patients recovered without significant sequelae, and the clinical course of their systemic infections did not appear to be markedly different than that of healthy children.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1994

Decay-accelerating factor is expressed in the human endometrium and may serve as the attachment ligand for Dr pili of Escherichia coli.

PROBLEM: We evaluated the hypothesis that different tissue substructures in uteri may express decay accelerating factor (DAF), a complement regulatory protein that also may serve as ligand for bacterial attachment. METHOD: Purified Dr pili, anti-Dr pili IgG, anti-DAF (SCR-3) IgG, and fluorescein-isothiocyanate-conjugated secondary IgG were used for binding and inhibition experiments. RESULT: We observed staining of endometrial glands, spiral arterioles, and myometrial arteries with Dr adhesin (pili) and anti-DAF (SCR-3) IgG, and found variation in distribution and amount of Dr ligands in different individuals. Anti-DAF (SCR-3) IgG blocked the binding of Dr pili to the endometrium. CONCLUSION: Presence of DAF in endometrium may protect tissues from complement-induced damage. Differences between individuals in DAF density in the endometrium may affect sensitivity to attachment of Dr-bearing E. coli and/or complement activation.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗
PubMed1994

Interim hospital order--a regional secure unit experience.

The Mental Health Act, 1983, provides certain new provisions for the disposal of mentally disordered offenders, including the Interim Hospital Order. This Order allows the appropriateness of an eventual Hospital Order to be assessed. However, there is a wide variation in the use of the Interim Hospital Order. This paper examines the use of this Order in the Trent Regional Secure Unit, where it seems to have been used principally to assess the treatability of patients under the category of psychopathic disorder.

Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders↗
PubMed1994

Anti-inflammatory properties of 3-methylpyrazolin-5-(4 H)-one-4-[3'-methoxy-4' (2'',3'',4'',6''-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glycopyranosyl]benzylidene (compound IIIA).

Oral treatment of compound IIIA exhibited dose related inhibitory action in acute tests of carrageenan, histamine and dextran-induced oedema in rats. Marked inhibitory action of the compound was found when it was administered intraperitoneally in animals. It displayed prominent anti-arthritic activity in chronic tests of adjuvant and formaldehyde-induced arthritis in rats. It prevented the arthritis associated rise in total leucocyte count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. It also lowered the levels of exudate volume and migration of leucocytes in carrageenan induced pleurisy in rats. It did not exhibit any analgesic, antipyretic or ulcerogenic effect. No mortality was recorded up to 2 g/kg in mice on oral or intraperitoneal treatment over a period of 72 hr.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Translocation of Thorotrast in the body.

To investigate whether there is a permanent translocation of Thorotrast in the body, the liver of male Lewis rats was removed 4 weeks after injection of Thorotrast (300 microliters) and replaced by a donor liver. In half of the animals the spleen was removed as well. Measuring the 232Th content in the donor liver at different times after implantation demonstrated a permanent transport of 232Th into the surrogate organ. After 231 days a 232Th depot of about 1.1 mg was found, representing about 3% of the total body burden. The additional removal of the spleen resulted in a significantly lower transport of 232Th into the implanted liver. Histological examinations of the donated livers revealed increasing local concentration of Thorotrast granules, leading to the development of conglomerates. A comparable translocation of Thorotrast was verified in two humans who required liver transplantation more than 40 years after Thorotrast injection.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

A study of bone and joint changes secondary to burns.

A clinical and radiological study of 80 postburn patients to determine the extent of bone and joint changes is presented. The group comprised 38 males and 42 females, with ages ranging from 2 to 60 years. The time since burning ranged from 6 to 12 months in 40, from 1 to 5 years in 24 and over 5 years in 16 patients. Clinically bone and adjoining tissue involvement were seen in 32 patients (40 per cent), while radiological changes were seen in 49 (61.25 per cent). Radiological changes noted included osteoporosis 56.25 per cent, stunted growth (phalanges and limbs) 27.5 per cent, osteomyelitis 2.5 per cent, partial resorption of terminal phalanges and ankylosis 1.25 per cent each. Periarticular, pericapsular and tendon calcification were each seen in 1.25 per cent of the patients. Bone and joint changes were encountered only in major burns, and these could be minimized by proper early surgical care and long-term rehabilitation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Cholestatic hepatitis in children infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.

A distinct clinical syndrome of cholestasis and hepatitis occurred during early infancy in seven infants with perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection. In five infants hepatitis was the first manifestation of human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection. The median age of onset of hepatitis was 7 months (range, 5 to 10 months). The mean total bilirubin concentration at presentation was 7.4 mg/dl (range, 3.9 to 11 mg/dl), the mean aspartate aminotransferase was 1512 IU/liter (range, 782 to 2960 IU/liter) and the mean alanine amino-transferase 512 IU/liter (range, 92 to 1247 IU/liter). The absolute CD4 count at the time of onset of hepatitis ranged from 191 to 2298 cells/mm3 (mean, 766 cells/mm3). Six of the seven children died within 12 weeks of onset of hepatitis, three as a result of complications of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, and two died of complications secondary to cytomegalovirus. In only one infant was the cause of death the direct consequence of liver failure. The seventh infant died 17 months after the onset of hepatitis of dilated cardiomyopathy. No specific etiologic agent has been identified as the cause of cholestatic hepatitis in these infants. In situ hybridization studies to detect human immunodeficiency virus 1 messenger RNA was negative in the liver tissue obtained at biopsy and autopsy in five of the samples tested.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1993

Sex offenders--cure or management?

A variety of biological, psychoanalytical and behavioural treatment strategies have been employed to treat sex offenders. Whilst these may produce short-term benefits, their efficacy in reducing long-term recidivism is uncertain. It is possible that treatment, as generally understood, is too ambitious an aim for this group of people and better results could be expected by employing a management strategy that includes treatment as well as life-long vigilant supervision. This can only be achieved if psychiatric services, which are used in continuing care, get involved in the management of sex offenders.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1993

Childhood appendicitis. A clinical profile.

A study to assess the reliability of clinical symptoms and signs in 50 patients with a presumptive diagnosis of acute appendicitis is presented. The male to female ratio was 3: 2, with age ranging from 2 to 15 years. Abdominal pain was present in 42; tenderness was localized in 35, generalized in 11 and diffuse in 4 patients. Total leucocyte count was above 11,000/cu mm in 31, below 11,000/cu mm in 17 and above 18,000/cu mm in 2. Of the 48 operated patients, 8 had normal appendices and the diagnosis in them was Meckel's diverticulitis 3, ruptured ovarian follicle 2, mesenteric adenitis 2, and salpingo-oophoritis 1. Abdominal pain and right iliac fossa tenderness with contributory investigations are the most reliable indicators of acute appendicitis with a false positive rate of 16.66% only.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed1992

Isolation and culture of synovial microvascular endothelial cells. Characterization and assessment of adhesion molecule expression.

OBJECTIVE: In vitro studies investigating the role of the synovial endothelium in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have, until recently, been performed using cultured endothelial cells of nonsynovial macrovascular origin. In an attempt to more correctly model in vivo conditions, a method for the isolation and culture of synovial microvascular endothelial cells (SMEC) has been developed. METHODS: SMEC were isolated, primarily, by the use of lectin-coated (Ulex europaeus agglutinin type I), magnetizable polystyrene beads. RESULTS: Isolated cells exhibit classic endothelial "cobblestone" morphology, express von Willebrand factor, metabolize acetylated low-density lipoprotein, and exhibit a cytokine (interleukin-1)-mediated expression of endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule type 1 (ELAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule type 1 (ICAM-1). ELAM-1 levels were significantly elevated in SMEC, compared with human umbilical vein endothelial cells, over a range of interleukin-1 concentrations. CONCLUSION: This increased expression of ELAM-1 by SMEC may be a potentiating step in the pathogenesis of RA.

Cell Adhesion↗