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Biomedical subjects

A Kumar

Publications and source records attributed to A Kumar.

At least 1,567 records · Page 87Linked to original sources

Monitoring of temephos (abate) application as a cyclopicide under the guineaworm eradication programme in India.

Temephos application in unsafe water sources at a dose of 1ppm, which started in 1986, is an important activity of the guineaworm eradication programme in India. During March 1989, monitoring of temephos application was carried out in six villages in each of the five guineaworm endemic districts: Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh), Gulbarga (Karnataka), Dhar (Madhya Pradesh), Thane (Maharashtra) and Jhalawar (Rajasthan), selected for the study. Out of 62 unsafe water sources targeted in the sampled villages for temephos treatment, 43 were treated during 1989 in the five districts (coverage 69.35 per cent). Out of these 43 treated sources 79.1 per cent were free of cyclops and the rest 20.93 per cent showed a variable cyclops count. 117 adult cyclops identified from these sources included Mesocyclops byalinus (82) and M. leuckarti (35). People's perception of utility of chemical treatment of water sources varied from negligibly low to moderate levels. Those areas which received timely application of temephos during the preceding year, al sharp decline in the number of cases in 1989 was observed. However, in those villages where no temephos was applied or where application was started as late as April or May, there was no impact on prevalence of the disease.

Animals↗

Immunoglobulins in hemophilia: correlation between IgG subclasses, IgE and HIV antibody.

Twenty-two patients with hemophilia who had received factor VIII concentrate were evaluated. Only 12 of 22 were seropositive for HIV. Elevation of IgG, IgG1, IgM and IgE was not related to HIV seropositivity. Means of IgG1, IgG2, and IgG3 were significantly higher in patients with elevated IgG. Means of IgG2 and IgG3 were significantly lower in patients with elevated (greater than or equal to 251) serum IgM. Seven of the 22 patients demonstrated elevated (greater than or equal to 100) serum IgE; mean serum IgA was significantly lower, though in normal range, in these seven patients. Alterations in serum immunoglobulins in patients with Hemophilia are frequently seen, however, like other immune-dysfunction in these patients, these abnormalities can not be attributed to their HIV status.

Adolescent↗

Epidemiology of Brugia malayi infection and its co-existence with Wuchereria bancrofti in and around Sillaberia PHC, District Midnapur, West Bengal.

Of 2186 persons investigated in thirteen villages of Sillaberia PHC, 19 were found to be infected with Brugia malayi and only one person harboured microfilaria (mf) of Wuchereria bancrofti. Similarly 41 persons exhibited signs and symptoms of chronic filariasis. The mf and disease rates percent worked out to be 0.914 and 1.87 respectively. The earliest ages showing mf and disease manifestations were 3 and 11 respectively. The mean mf density ranged from 2 to 12.2 per 20 cumm of blood. The male and female ratio in terms of mf carriers and chronic cases worked out to be 1.4:1 and 1:2 respectively. The entomological collections revealed a high ten man hour density (163.20) in case of Culex quinquefasciatus and comparatively much lower in case of Mansonia (Mansonioides) annulifera (47.51) and Mansonia (Mansoni oides) uniformis (23.83) respectively. The infection and infectivity rates in case of Mansonia (Mansonioides) annulifera were 6.1 and 1.2 per cent respectively.

Adolescent↗

Steady-state kinetic properties of phosphoglycerate kinase of mung beans.

Steady-state kinetics of the action of mung bean phosphoglycerate kinase have been investigated using 3-phosphoglycerate and ATP as substrates in the presence of Mg2+ ions. Keeping a constant and high Mg2+ concentration and varying the concentration of one of the substrates (ATP or 3-phosphoglycerates) at several fixed concentrations of the other substrate (3-phosphoglycerate or ATP), the Km values of Mg.ATP2- and 3-phosphoglycerate were found to be 0.42 and 0.60 mM, respectively. These values are independent of the concentration of the other substrate. A limiting value of Vmax, where the enzyme is saturated with both the substrates, was found to be 39.4 mumoles product formed per min per mg enzyme protein. This corresponds to a turnover number equal to 31.5 sec-1 (for molecular weight of the enzyme equal to 48,000). If [Mg2+] and [ATP4-] are held equal and varied together at several fixed concentrations of 3-phosphoglycerate, deviations from Michaelis-Menten kinetics (non-linear Lineweaver-Burk plots) are observed at lower values of ATP4- and Mg2+ (less than 0.1 mM), giving rise to apparent sigmoidicity in the rate versus [ATP4-] plots. It has been suggested that the real substrate for this enzyme is the Mg.ATP2- complex (and not free ATP4-). The complex dissociates at lower values of [Mg2+] and [ATP4-]. The resulting disproportionate decrease in the concentration of the complex brings about a steeper fall in the rate of reaction than is required by the Michaelis-Menten equation, giving rise to an apparent sigmoidicity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Clinical and laboratory profile of systemic sclerosis in northern India.

The clinical and laboratory features of 87 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) are described. A large majority of patients presented with diffuse disease with extensive ulcerations and digital resorption. No case of CREST syndrome was seen. The pattern of systemic involvement was generally similar to that reported in the Western literature. Renal involvement appeared to be less aggressive and chronic in its course. A possible aetiology was identified in three patients.

Adolescent↗

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD): an appraisal of different tests for diagnosis.

Fifty symptomatic patients with GERD, 20 each of non ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) & duodenal ulcer (DU) and 10 healthy controls were subjected to various tests employed for diagnosis of GERD. Among these endoscopy and histology had highest sensitivities (92% & 91% respectively) followed by Bernstein's test (overall 88%; early positivity 72%) and oesophagography (70%). The specificities of various tests were: endoscopy (86%), histology (82%) and Bernstein's test (overall 80%; early positive 94%). The false positivity was mainly in DU subjects where majority (greater than 84%) had two or more of these tests offitive. Any two of the three tests (endoscopy, histology & Bernstein's test) in combination had a sensitivity of 80-91% and a specificity of 90-92%. Our observations suggest that these tests, particularly in combination, are useful in establishing the diagnosis of GERD and that subclinical oesophagitis in DU might be responsible for the false positivity of these tests.

Adolescent↗

Classification of the follicle population based on oocyte diameter and number of granulosa cells in the ovary of large-eared hedgehog, Hemiechinus auritus gmelin.

The present study includes the classification of ovarian follicle population in H. auritus on the basis of oocyte diameter and granulosa cell layers. Our observations revealed that there was direct relationship in the oocyte diameter and the follicle size under a certain limit. Diameter of oocytes increased from 10 microns to 84 microns with consequent increase in the follicle size from 20 microns to 320 microns. However, the diameter of oocyte did not show further increase, but the follicle size was enlarged gradually up to 500 microns. Based on the diameter of follicle and the number of granulosa cell layers, the follicle population was divisible into 5 categories: 1. primordial follicle which ranged 20 to 80 microns in diameter with few cells to one complete layer of granulosa cells in the largest cross section; 2. small follicle which was 81 to 200 microns in diameter having 2 to 3 complete layers of granulosa cells; 3. secondary or medium-sized follicle which ranged 201 to 320 microns in diameter and consisted of 4 to 6 complete layers of granulosa cells; 4. transitory follicle having diameter 321 to 360 microns and 7 complete layers of granulosa cells; 5. large-sized follicle which ranged 361 to 500 microns in diameter and had more than 7 layers of granulosa cells.

Animals↗

Effect of different concentrations of diphtheria toxoid & aluminum phosphate on potency of diphtheria component in DPT vaccines.

An effort was made to determine the optimum concentration of diphtheria toxoid in combination with aluminum phosphate gel in DPT vaccines which may give a safe, potent and economical preparation. The effect of four different concentrations of aluminum phosphate and three different antigenic concentrations of diphtheria toxoid on potency of diphtheria component in DPT vaccine was assessed. A gradual increase in potency was seen with increase in toxoid concentration and a gradual decrease in potency with the increase in aluminum phosphate content. Vaccines made with minimum quantities of toxoid (30 Lf/ml) and aluminum phosphate (3 mg/ml) were found to be highly satisfactory. Vaccines prepared with high antigenic purity toxoid have better potency, as compared to those prepared with a relatively low antigenic purity toxoid.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Modification of glybenclamide hypoglycaemia by verapamil in rabbits.

The study was designed to demonstrate the interaction between verapamil and glybenclamide on blood glucose in rabbits. Glybenclamide (0.05 mg/kg, po) induced hypoglycaemia was observed 1 h after treatment and persisted till 3 h. Verapamil (8 mg/kg, sc) per se produced hyperglycaemia which lasted for 2 1/2 hr. Concurrent administration of verapamil was found to impair significantly the hypoglycaemic response of glybenclamide.

Animals↗

Operational research need in guineaworm eradication programme.

To achieve global guineaworm (GW) eradication in 1990s, it is of paramount importance for GW endemic countries to immediately identify and solve the existing deficiencies and inconsistencies in GW eradication programmes (GWEP). This is possible only through concurrent evaluation and operational research. The present communication highlights the simple operational research which could be undertaken by GWEP managers to improve programme efficiency at various levels of its implementation.

Animals↗

Rapid diagnosis of Japanese encephalitis by immunofluorescent examination of cerebrospinal fluid.

An indirect immunofluorescent technique for rapid diagnosis of patients of Japanese encephalitis (JE) was developed by demonstrating the viral antigen in CSF cells. The CSF samples of 31 consecutive patients admitted with acute viral encephalitis during 1987 were studied. In 15 patients the diagnosis of JE virus infection was made on the same day. Classical techniques for virus detection and antibody serology were also conducted in these patients. The indirect immunofluorescence for JE virus antigen detection in CSF cells proved to be a rapid and simple procedure for making a quick diagnosis of infection.

Acute Disease↗

[Total vessel obliteration in arteriosclerosis].

Chronic occlusion of atherosclerotic genesis in the femoro-popliteal zone is one of the most widespread vascular diseases. Surgical correction of this pathology still remains far from being solved. The authors propose a new kind of operation-a total disobliteration of the occluded artery which is a variant of semiclosed endarterectomy. An analysis of 116 operations of total disobliteration with an average 30-month period of postoperative observations has shown high percentage (81%) of patency of the disobliterated artery. The authors consider that operation of the total disobliteration type is indicated for the 3-4 stage ischemia of lower extremities, for high risk of the development of infectious complications and the absence of adequate autovein as a plastic material.

Adult↗

Clinical features & prognostic indicators of Japanese encephalitis in children in Lucknow (India).

This communication reports the clinical features of 92 children with Japanese encephalitis diagnosed on the basis of viral isolation from brain or cerebrospinal fluid and/or a 4-fold or higher rise in antibody titre in paired sera by haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test, followed by detection of specific IgM HI antibody. More than a third of the patients (38%) were from urban areas. A high incidence of fever (94.5%), coma (100%) and convulsions (84.7%) was seen. Focal neurological deficit was found in 29.3 per cent of patients and pleocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid in 32.3 per cent. An extrapyramidal syndrome developed in 21.3 per cent patients during the convalescent stage. Thirty four (36.9%) patients died while in hospital. Mortality was significantly related to a short prodromal stage, deep coma, abnormalities in tone and breathing and decerebrate posturing. Japanese encephalitis represents a severe disease in children with a high early mortality.

Child↗