Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Kaul

Publications and source records attributed to A Kaul.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Immunopharmacological properties of azepino [2, 1-b] quinazolin-12(6H)-one-7, 8, 9, 10-tetrahydro (RLX).

The effect of azepino [2,1-b]quinazolin-12(6H)-one-7, 8, 9, 10-tetrahydro (RLX) was studied on cell-mediated and humoral components of the immune system. In single (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) and multiple (6.25, 12.50, 25 and 50 m/kg) oral dose schedules RLX significantly reduced the early (4 h) and delayed (24 and 48 h) hypersensitivity reactions to SRBC in mice. Daily oral administration of RLX (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) produced a dose-related reduction in developing adjuvant arthritis in rats. In carrageenan-induced pleurisy in rats RLX (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg p.o.) caused a marked reduction in the volume of pleural exudate (25.26-59.64%) and infiltration of leucocytes (28.75-50.29%) into the pleural cavity. RLX produced marked inhibition of humoral antibody synthesis both in mice and rats and that of complement fixing antibody in mice. It was not cytotoxic and showed no appreciable effect on the responsiveness of splenocytes to mitogens. The observed effect of RLX on cell-mediated and humoral immune responses does not appear to be the result of general toxicity.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Early diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus infection in children less than 6 months of age: comparison of polymerase chain reaction, culture, and plasma antigen capture techniques.

Three techniques were evaluated for their ability to detect human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in infants from birth to 6 months of age. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and HIV cocultivation were of comparable sensitivity, detecting 90% of all positive specimens. Both techniques found positive results in approximately 5% of samples from seroreverting children. Both assays detected HIV in only half of infected newborns, suggesting that this fraction of children was infected during gestation. Plasma p24 antigen was detected in three-fourths of all samples tested but in only half of infected children during the first 2 months of life and 88% of samples from children during the next 4 months. The specificity of p24 antigen detection was 100%.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1992

Low risk of mother-to-child transmission of human T lymphotropic virus type II in non-breast-fed infants. The NYC Perinatal HIV Transmission Collaborative Study.

The transmissibility of human T lymphotropic virus (HTLV) type II from mother to child was investigated. Of 236 women enrolled during pregnancy in a study of mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus in 1986-1988, 21 (8.9%) were seropositive for HTLV-I/II. All 21 mothers were infected with HTLV-II by synthetic peptide testing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HTLV-II-infected women were older (median age, 34 vs. 28 years), more likely to be black (70% vs. 38%), and more likely to report past or current intravenous drug use (85% vs. 56%) than HTLV-II-uninfected women. Of 20 non-breast-fed infants born to 19 of these HTLV-II-infected women, none had detectable HTLV-II by PCR done on peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained at birth to 36 months of age. Serologic testing of these infants revealed gradual disappearance of HTLV-I/II antibody. While this study does not rule out the possibility of perinatal HTLV-II transmission, the data suggest that it occurs rarely in the absence of breast-feeding.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Measurement of whole unstimulated salivary flow in the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome.

The criteria for a clinical diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome remain controversial and vary widely from study to study. With respect to the oral component it is considered necessary to use some form of objective test, but many of those available are not suitable for use in a busy clinical situation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a simple method for measuring the whole unstimulated salivary flow. Twenty five patients with Sjögren's syndrome, 69 young control subjects, 20 age matched normal older control subjects and 20 patients with rheumatoid arthritis without Sjögren's syndrome had their salivary flows measured. Whole unstimulated salivary flows in the young control subjects were higher than in all other groups. Patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome had lower flows than either the older controls or the rheumatoid patients. Among the patients with Sjögren's syndrome 52% had a flow of 0.1 ml/min or less compared with only 8% of age matched controls. The positive predictive value of this low flow was 81%. It is concluded that whole unstimulated salivary flows of 0.1 ml/min or less are highly specific for xerostomia. When interpreted in the context of all the clinical findings whole unstimulated salivary flows are useful for diagnosing the oral component of Sjögren's syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Delayed recognition of human immunodeficiency virus infection in preadolescent children.

Thirty-two (18%) of 181 children cared for at our institution who were infected with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) were first seen, and HIV was diagnosed, when they were 4 years of age and older. Initial complaints or diagnoses for these children included the following: hematologic disorders (5) (3 idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, 1 neutropenia, 1 anemia); recurrent bacterial infections (10); Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (3); developmental delay (1); skin disorders (2) (1 genital wart, 1 chronic zoster); weight loss (3); malignancy (1); and nephropathy (1). Eight children were referred for evaluation because of maternal HIV-1 infection. The risk factors for HIV-1 infection included maternal/perinatal exposure (22), perinatal blood transfusion (6), blood transfusion during infancy (2), and sexual abuse (2). Ten (31%) of the 32 children have subsequently died. The longest survival from perinatal infection was 12 years. HIV-1 infection in children can result in a prolonged clinical latency and can masquerade as other pathologic conditions. The absence of clinical symptoms in older children at risk for HIV-1 infection should not deter HIV testing.

Child↗
PubMed1992

Thrombocytopenia in children infected with human immunodeficiency virus: long-term follow-up and therapeutic considerations.

Among 180 children infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), 14 (8%) developed thrombocytopenia during the course of the disease and have been followed for an average period of 18.8 months. Eight of 14 patients had clinical signs of bleeding. Increased levels of anti-platelet IgG antibodies were detected in 86% of patients tested and did not correlate with severity of disease. Eight patients were treated initially with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) and responded with a transient increase in the platelet count of at least 30 x 10(9)/L. Sustained remission could not be achieved in the patients treated with IVIG alone. Corticosteroids were used in 6 patients who became refractory to IVIG and resulted in sustained remission in only one patient. Spontaneous remission of thrombocytopenia occurred in one patient. Ten patients were treated with zidovudine (ZVD) for a period of 3-20 months. Sustained improvement in the platelet counts occurred in only three of the children treated with ZVD.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1992

Chronic varicella zoster in a child infected with human immunodeficiency virus: case report and review of the literature.

Chronic zoster represents an infrequent presentation of varicella zoster virus infection. It is observed with increased frequency in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus, especially when their lymphocyte counts are depressed. We report a child infected with human immunodeficiency virus who showed a long-standing cutaneous zoster lesion and was treated for a prolonged period of time with acyclovir. The occurrence of resistance to acyclovir by varicella zoster virus was suspected based on the clinical picture. The clinical and laboratory features of this case and a review of the literature are presented.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1991

Vascular endothelium: a potential role in HIV infection and the pathogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma: observations and speculations.

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) has become a source of interest in recent years primarily for its strong association with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Endothelial cells (EC) are central to inflammation and can regulate coagulation and leucocyte emigration and may be central to the development of the disease. As they are also capable of being infected by HIV in vivo, this infection may contribute to the immunosuppressive effects of HIV seen in AIDS. Recent work has shed new light on the mechanisms involved in EC proliferation. The aim of this article is to review such evidence implicating EC in the development of KS. Additionally, hypotheses will be put forward to explain the mechanism of the vascular proliferation in KS and the possible role of EC in HIV infection. There is therefore enormous potential for the therapeutic targeting of endothelium to control these diseases.

Endothelium, Vascular↗
PubMed1991

Lack of correlation between maternal antibodies to V3 loop peptides of gp120 and perinatal HIV-1 transmission. The NYC Perinatal HIV Transmission Collaborative Study.

Recent reports have suggested that maternal antibodies to specific epitopes of the variable region 3 (V3 loop) of gp120 of HIV-1 might protect against perinatal transmission. In an attempt to confirm these findings, sera from 34 HIV-1-seropositive mothers, representing 13 episodes of mother-to-infant transmission and 23 episodes of non-transmission (two mothers had two pregnancies each during the study period), were tested for the presence of antibodies to various regions of the gp120 V3 loop. Synthetic peptides were generated from HIV-1MN. Of the four peptides tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), only antibody to the C53 peptide (Env310-322, principal neutralizing determinant) was present in maternal sera. Antibody to the C53 sequence was present in 11 specimens from transmitting mothers and 21 from non-transmitting mothers (84.6 and 91.3%, respectively, P = 0.6). No reactivity was detected against the C51, C57, or C58 peptide sequences, located on the sides of the V3 loop. In an antigen-limited ELISA, only two specimens from transmitting mothers and two specimens from non-transmitting mothers had detectable 'high-affinity' antibodies to C53 at low antigen concentrations (15.4 and 8.7%, respectively; P = 0.6). Our results do not support previous reports that epitope-specific antibodies to the V3 loop peptides protect against perinatal transmission. Further research is required to determine whether any specific maternal humoral response might influence HIV-1 perinatal transmission.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Disseminated fungal infections in children infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

A retrospective review of charts of 156 human immunodeficiency virus-infected children cared for during a 7.5-year period revealed 11 episodes of disseminateed candidiasis (DC) occurring in 11 patients (7%). All 11 patients developed the fungal infection in the context of advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection. All but one were hospital-acquired, occurring at a mean of 2.3 months after admission. Ten patients had been febrile for more than 14 days before diagnosis. Previous oral thrush and central venous catheters (73 and 82% of patients) represented major predisposing factors for development of DC. Neutropenia (2 of 11 patients) did not represent a major risk factor for DC. Candida albicans was isolated in 9 patients, Rhodotorula minuta in 1 patient and 1 fungal isolate could not be identified. Sources of isolation were blood (8 of 11 patients), central venous catheters (3 of 11) and urine (2 of 11). Lungs (6 of 11 patients), esophagus (5 of 11) and brain, heart and kidneys (3 patients each) were the organs most often involved in DC. Antemortem diagnosis was achieved in only 7 (64%) patients; none of the 4 patients with DC diagnosed postmortem had been treated before death. Seven patients were treated with amphotericin B; 6 of them died but only 3 were treated for more than 7 days of therapy. The overall mortality was 90% (10 of 11 patients). In all 20% of the 50 human immunodeficiency virus-infected children who died at our hospital during the study period had an episode of DC in close proximity to their death. DC was considered the direct cause of death in 4 of 10 children.

Child↗
PubMed1991

Gerontophilia--a case report.

Gerontophilia describes a specific sexual inclination towards the elderly and may at times explain the sadistic attacks made upon them. The case of a homosexual gerontophile who was engaging in assaulting old men is reported here. An attempt has been made at understanding his offending behaviour and possible treatment options proposed.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Neoplastic diseases induced by chronic alpha-irradiation--epidemiological, biophysical and clinical results of the German Thorotrast Study.

The intravascular injection of the formerly used contrast medium Thorotrast--a colloidal suspension of thorium-dioxide--causes a chronic exposure to alpha-particles especially in the organs of the reticuloendothelial system. The German Thorotrast Study comprises 2326 Thorotrast patients and 1890 contemporary matched patients in the control group to be evaluated. 899 Thorotrast patients and 662 controls had clinical and biophysical follow-up examinations every two years since 1969. The recent most important results of the study are: A high excess rate of primary liver cancer (410/2) was observed beginning after the 15th year of exposure. 31% of the tumors are combined with cirrhosis and 6% with other neoplastic diseases. A clear (mean) dose rate effect relationship exists. The tumor frequency depends on the time of exposure or the cumulative dose to the liver respectively and not primarily on the age at injection. The lowest cumulative doses at 10 years before diagnosis of liver cancer were about 2 Gy. Risk estimates for liver cancer after 40 years of exposure are 500 malignant tumors per 10(4) person-Gy for men and 300 for women. A high excess rate exists also for leukaemias (excluding CLL) starting already 5 years after Thorotrast injection (39/4). The lowest cumulative doses to the red bone marrow at time of death were about 0.5 Gy. According to the present result, an excess rate can be expected for carcinomas of the extrahepatic bile ducts, pancreas, oesophagus, larynx, as well as Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, bone sarcomas, plasmacytomas and mesotheliomas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Changes in phosphatases and lipids following scrotal gamma irradiation in adult rat testis.

Effects of localized low (2.5 Gy) and high (10 Gy) levels of gamma irradiation on the testis of albino rats were studied. A marked increase in the testicular total lipid, phospholipid and cholesterol content was observed at all post-treatment intervals except at 16 weeks where the contents decreased. A significant decrease in the activity of acid phosphatase/g of testis was seen at both the doses, the minimum value being at 4 weeks. The decrease in acid phosphatase activity is correlated with the state of germ cell population in seminiferous tubule which is found to be depleted at 4 week interval. The alkaline phosphatase activity/g testis however, showed a significant increase, the maximum being at 4 weeks post-treatment. Thereafter, the values of the enzyme activity showed a slight recovery at 16 weeks post-irradiation. ATPase activity increased initially followed by a significant decrease at all post-treatment intervals.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Spermatogenesis and epididymal sperm after scrotal gamma irradiation in adult rats.

Quantitative histologic evaluation was performed on the testes of albino rats exposed to scrotal gamma irradiation of 2.5 Gy and 10.0 Gy. The animals were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4, and 16 weeks posttreatment. As a result of irradiation, there was a gradual decrease in testicular weight. The seminiferous tubules of irradiated animals showed arrest of spermatogenesis, desquamation, vacuolization of germinal cells, and multinucleated giant cells. The extent of damage increased with posttreatment interval and with increasing dose. Counting of germinal cells at stage VII of the seminiferous epithelium revealed that the preleptotene spermatocyte is the most sensitive to radiation as compared to other cells. The number of epididymal sperm decreased, whereas the proportion of nonmotile and morphologically abnormal sperm increased following irradiation.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Head and neck manifestations of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in children.

The head-and-neck manifestations of HIV infection in children are very different from those in the adult population. Recurrent bacterial and viral infections are common manifestations, and persistent sinusitis or otitis media should make the otolaryngologist suspicious of HIV infection if the child has been exposed to the virus. Other common problems include mucocutaneous and esophageal candidiasis, recurrent herpes I and II and zoster infections, parotid swelling, and cervical lymphadeopathy.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗