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Biomedical subjects

A Mohanty

Publications and source records attributed to A Mohanty.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Third ventricular colloid cysts in children.

INTRODUCTION: Colloid cysts of the 3rd ventricle are relatively rare intracranial tumours, more so in children. They are benign tumours with excellent prognosis if diagnosed and treated early. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 18 cases of colloid cysts in children below 18 years, operated in our institution between September 1998 and November 2003 (5 years) was made. Clinical presentation, radiological findings, surgical approaches and outcome were analysed. RESULTS: Age ranged from 7 to 18 years. The male-to-female ratio was 12:6. Headache and vomiting were the most common symptoms. Papilloedema was the most common clinical sign. Pre-operative CT showed a hyperdense non-enhancing lesion in the majority. Twelve patients underwent a transcallosal, 2 a transcortical and 4 an endoscopic approach. Ventriculoperitoneal shunts were done in 5 patients. Postoperatively 2 patients developed epidural haemorrhage which required evacuation. One patient was re-explored for symptomatic residue. A mean follow-up of 10.2 months was available in 9 patients; the majority were asymptomatic. CONCLUSION: Colloid cysts though rare are increasingly detected in children. Their early recognition and treatment give excellent results.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Medulloblastoma with extensive nodularity: a variant occurring in the very young-clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study of four cases.

CASE REPORT: Four cases of medulloblastoma with extensive nodularity (MBEN) are described. The patients were 3 years of age or younger at diagnosis. Cranial CT scan disclosed multiple coalescing nodules with peculiar 'grape-like' architecture in three patients. A near total excision of the tumour was performed in all four patients. The patients are currently receiving radiation and chemotherapy. Histologically, the tumours were characterized by extreme nodularity with intranodular uniformity and low proliferative index. The internodular zones were extremely cellular, composed of undifferentiated, mitotically active cells. Bcl-2 protein expression was observed in the cellular zones but was distinctly absent within nodules. DISCUSSION: MBEN represents a variant that occurs in very young children but has a good prognosis. The favourable outcome is probably related to its spontaneous neurocytic differentiation. The pattern of Bcl-2 immunoreactivity in MBENs indicates that this protein could be a key player in the regulation of neuronal differentiation in medulloblastomas.

Cerebellar Neoplasms↗
PubMed2003

Evaluation of nimodipine in the treatment of severe diffuse head injury: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to establish whether nimodipine given orally soon after severe diffuse head injury for a period of three weeks improved outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present report analyzes the results of a prospective randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of nimodipine in 97 severe head injury patients (GCS Score < or =8) treated at the Department of Neurosurgery, NIMHANS, between January 1995 and June 1996. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups which were matched for age, sex, mode of injury, time interval from injury to admission, neurological status and CT scan findings. One group was given nimodipine 30 mg Q6H and the other group was given a placebo. The outcome of these patients at 6 months was evaluated using the Glasgow Outcome Score by and a psychologist. RESULTS: Results showed no significant difference in the functional and psychological outcome between the two groups, even in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. No adverse drug events were recorded. CONCLUSION: Oral nimodipine given for three weeks does not improve outcome in patients with severe diffuse head injury.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Transgenics of an elite indica rice variety Pusa Basmati 1 harbouring the codA gene are highly tolerant to salt stress.

Transgenic lines of indica rice were generated by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation with the choline oxidase ( codA) gene from Arthrobacter globiformis. Choline oxidase catalyses conversion of choline to glycine betaine. Glycine betaine is known to provide tolerance against a variety of stresses. Molecular analyses of seven independent transgenic lines as performed by Southern, Northern and Western hybridization revealed integration and expression of the transgene as well as inheritance in the progeny plants. A good correlation was observed between levels of mRNA and protein accumulation, and a significant amount of choline oxidase product, i.e. glycine betaine, accumulated in R0 as well as R1 plants. Mendelian as well as non-Mendelian segregation patterns were obtained in the progeny plants. Challenge studies performed with R1 plants by exposure to salt stress (0.15 M NaCl) for 1 week, followed by a recovery period, revealed that in some cases more than 50% of the transgenic plants could survive salt stress and set seed whereas wild-type plants failed to recover.

Betaine↗
PubMed2002

Intraoperative bradycardia and postoperative hyperkalemia in patients undergoing endoscopic third ventriculostomy.

During our initial experience with endoscopic third ventriculostomies, we observed intraoperative bradycardia and postoperative hyperkalemia. The present study was carried out to verify the consistency of these initial observations. Intraoperative heart rate (HR) changes and postoperative serum K + changes were studied prospectively in 20 patients of endoscopic third ventriculostomy. Another 6 patients who underwent endoscopic procedures other than ventriculostomy acted as controls. The anaesthetic technique and intraoperative and postoperative fluid regimen were similar in all patients. Serum K + concentrations were measured intraoperatively and once a day for the next 5 days. The third ventriculostomy group exhibited a significant slowing of the heart rate during the fenestration of the floor of the third ventricle (112 +/- 26 to 101 +/- 28 bpm, p < 0.001) and also at the time of the reversal of the neuromuscular block at the end of surgery (104 +/- 29 to 96 +/- 33 bpm, p < 0.01). The control group did not exhibit similar changes in the heart rate. The postoperative increase in serum K + values in the ventriculostomy group (0.82 +/- 0.55 mmol/L) was higher than that in the control group (0.10 +/- 0.44 mmol/L) (p < 0.01). Endoscopic third ventriculostomy is associated with a significant bradycardia at the time of fenestration and at the time of reversal of the neuromuscular block. The procedure is also associated with a postoperative increase in serum K + values. We propose a mechanism involving distortion of the posterior hypothalamus, which accounts for the bradycardia and postoperative hyperkalemia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

A population genetic analysis of chloroplast DNA in wild populations of Prunus avium L. in Europe.

A population genetic study of chloroplast DNA was carried out in 23 wild populations of Prunus avium sampled from several European deciduous forests. An analysis of approx. 9% of the chloroplast genome detected mostly insertion-deletion mutations and one point mutation. In all, 16 haplotypes were detected. Six haplotypes were shared by two or more populations and 10 were unique. One haplotype was present in 21 of the 23 populations and 161 of 211 individuals, which probably indicates its ancient origin. The level of population subdivision, using unordered and ordered alleles, was low, GSTC=0.29 and NSTC=0.33, respectively. The difference between GSTC and NSTC is nonsignificant, indicating an absence of correlation between haplotype phylogeny and geographical distribution. The absence of phylogeographic structure in wild cherry may be attributed to long distance gene flow among populations by birds, animals and anthropogenic activities. The minimum-length spanning tree depicting the phylogenetic relationships between the haplotypes indicates the possible existence of two lineages represented by the haplotypes H3 and H4. The information about homogeneity or heterogeneity of populations in terms of haplotype constitution and detection of rare haplotypes in some populations will be useful for formulation of conservation and management strategies of wild cherry.

DNA Restriction Enzymes↗
PubMed2001

Endoscopic approach to intraventricular cysticercal lesions.

Various surgical approaches to treat intraventricular cysticercosis have been practiced over the years. We now present our experience with the use of the endoscope in the removal of intraventricular cysticercal cysts in patients with intraventricular cysticercal lesions associated with hydrocephalus. From 1995 to 1998, we have excised intraventricular cysticercal cysts from 9 patients. They were located in lateral ventricle in 4, in the third ventricle in two and in the fourth ventricle in three patients. A Gaab's rigid neuroendoscope system was used to enter and excise cysts in the lateral and third ventricle. The flexible fiberoptic scope was used for excising cysts in the fourth ventricle, through a transaqueductal route. In all cases a precoronal frontal burr hole was used for entry. All have been treated with albendazole in the postoperative period. All the cysts were removed successfully using endoscopic neurosurgery alone. One patient had a superficial injury to the rigid side of the aqueduct with a postoperative deficit, which improved. Three septal perforations, three third ventriculostomies, and one aqueductoplasty were done in the same sitting after cyst removal for CSF diversion. None of the nine cases required further surgery up to date. The follow-up period varied from 12 to 45 months with a median of 18 months. Endoscopic neurosurgery is a minimally invasive technique enabling removal of intraventricular cyticercal cysts from all locations, avoiding major craniotomies/posterior fossa explorations and shunts.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Prognostic factors in children with severe diffuse brain injuries: a study of 74 patients.

Severe diffuse brain injury in children has a devastating influence on their physical and psychological development. This retrospective study was undertaken to analyse the factors that influence outcome in children with such injuries. The short-term outcomes (Glasgow outcome score) of 74 children (age < or =15 years) with severe diffuse brain injury and no focal operable mass lesions on CT scan, admitted between 1992 and 1998 at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences were analysed. The prognostic factors analysed were age, gender, time after injury to admission, nature of injury, highest post-resuscitation Glasgow coma score (GCS), pupillary reaction, horizontal oculocephalic reflex and CT scan findings. The following factors were found to be independent predictors of poor outcome: GCS 3-5 (p < 0.003), absent verbal response (p < 0.001), motor response score of 1-3 (p < 0.001), absent pupillary reaction (p < 0.001), absent oculocephalic reflex (p < 0.001) and presence of traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage on CT scan (p < 0.002). These independent variables were then subjected to a stepwise logistic regression analysis, and the most important variables for predicting outcome were oculocephalic reflex and GCS, which together correctly predicted unfavourable outcome with a sensitivity of 79% and a specificity of 65%. An early CT scan or a single CT scan did not have any prognostic significance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Differential effects of glucose on modulation of emotional and nonemotional spatial memory tasks.

Research examining the memory-enhancing effects of glucose in humans has been limited to mnemonic tasks lacking affective components, even though glucose may be a mechanism for emotion-induced memory enhancement. This limitation does not permit analysis of interactions between the enhancing properties of emotional stimuli and glucose. Participants were administered either glucose or saccharin 15 min prior to completing a neutral or emotional spatial memory task. Performance under three glycemic conditions (100 mg/kg or 50 g glucose, or placebo) for the two sets of emotional stimuli revealed a significant interaction. Both 100-mg/kg and 50-g doses of glucose resulted in impaired performance for emotional stimuli. For neutral stimuli, a 100-mg/kg dose enhanced memory, whereas a 50-g dose showed no effect. Results indicate that the enhancing effects of emotional stimuli may be attenuated by the consumption of glucose and suggest that recent food consumption should be considered in paradigms examining memory.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Rice transformation for crop improvement and functional genomics.

Although several japonica and some indica varieties of rice have already been transformed, there is significant scope for improvement in the technology for transformation of economically important indica varieties. Successful transformation of rice employing Agrobacterium and recent advances in direct gene transfer by biolistics, evidenced by transfer of multiple genes, have removed some of the serious impediments in the area of gene engineering. The transfer of genes for nutritionally important biosynthetic pathway has provided many opportunities for performing metabolic engineering. Other useful genes for resistance against pests, diseases and abiotic stresses have also been transferred to rice. But the limited knowledge about important target genes requires rapid progress in the field of functional genomics. Transgenic rice system can be applied to isolate new genes, promoters, and enhancers and their functions could be unravelled. The combination of novel regulatory systems for targeted expression and useful new genes should pave the way for improvement of rice and other cereals.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Analysis of the activity of promoters from two photosynthesis-related genes psaF and petH of spinach in a monocot plant, rice.

The subunit III of photosystem I and ferredoxin-NADP(+)-oxidoreductase are encoded by nuclear genes, namely psaF and petH. The activity of their promoters from spinach has been evaluated in transgenic tobacco earlier. Evaluation of the activity of these Dicotyledoneae-specific promoters has been carried out in a monocot system (i.e. rice) by transient gene expression system, based on electroporation-mediated gene delivery into protoplasts from leaves and roots. It has been found that various promoter deletions show higher activity in leaf protoplasts and elements for quantitative response are widely distributed. Transgenic rice has also been produced with a petH promoter and gus reporter gene construct. Although petH promoter is a weak promoter in comparison to the 35S promoter, it expresses well in green tissues and could be useful for plant genetic engineering.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1999

Role of stereotactic aspiration in the management of tuberculous brain abscess.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial tuberculous abscesses are uncommon clinical entities, even in countries where tuberculosis is endemic. Surgical excision and antituberculous treatment is the treatment of choice. The role of stereotactic aspiration in the management of these lesions is highlighted in this communication. METHODS: Three patients, all receiving treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis, presented with symptoms of raised intracranial pressure and neurological deficits. Computed tomography (CT) scans revealed cystic lesions with enhancing rim in the thalamus in two patients and multiple coalescing cystic lesions in the deep temporal region in another. RESULTS: Stereotactic aspiration of the cyst and biopsy of the cyst wall were performed in all. In two, the pus revealed acid fast bacilli (AFB). In another, though the pus did not reveal any AFB, the wall showed tuberculous granuloma. Antituberculous treatment was continued in all the patients. Follow-up CT revealed resolution of the lesions in all patients. CONCLUSION: Stereotactic aspiration is an useful alternative modality of management of tuberculous abscesses in a selected group of patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Diagnostic efficacy of stereotactic biopsies in intracranial tuberculomas.

BACKGROUND: Stereotactic biopsies for diagnosing intracranial tuberculomas are often reported to be inconclusive, being confirmatory in only 28% of cases. We analyzed the role and diagnostic efficacy of stereotactic biopsies in the management of intracranial tuberculomas. METHODS: Twenty patients diagnosed with intracranial tuberculomas based on neuroimaging procedures underwent computerized tomography (CT) guided stereotactic biopsies for histological confirmation. In 10 patients (Group A), biopsies were obtained from the center of the lesion; in the other 10 (Group B), biopsies were obtained from both the enhancing rim and the isodense center and examined separately. The tissues were processed for paraffin sections and hematoxylin eosin staining. In addition, in the first five patients a squash smear from a small portion of the biopsy was prepared, and the cytological features of the cells were examined. All the patients received antitubercular medication and CT scans were repeated 4 months posttreatment. RESULTS: Histopathological features of the paraffin sections in 17 patients (Group A: 8, Group B: 9) were diagnostic of tuberculoma, whereas the other three revealed only chronic nonspecific inflammation. Based on the cytological features in squash smears, diagnosis could be made in one of five. In two, although the smear was not diagnostic, the histological section from the same specimen confirmed the tuberculous pathology. There was no procedural morbidity or mortality. One patient had a small asymptomatic hematoma at the biopsy site. Three patients died during the follow-up period, due to secondary complications of tuberculosis. Repeat CT scans during follow-up after antituberculous treatment confirmed the reduction in the size of the lesion in 15/17 patients. CONCLUSION: The high positive yield of stereotactic biopsies in diagnosing tuberculomas argues for their inclusion in the management protocol for tuberculous mass lesions.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1999

Neuroendoscopic third ventriculostomy in the management of fourth ventricular outlet obstruction.

Acquired fourth ventricular outlet obstruction, an uncommon entity, has been conventionally managed by ventriculoperitoneal shunt placements or excision of the obstructing membranes. The role of endoscopic third ventriculostomy is highlighted in the present communication. Three patients presenting with symptoms of raised intracranial pressure were diagnosed to have fourth ventricular outlet obstruction by neuroimaging studies and underwent endoscopic third ventriculostomy. All the patients had relief of their symptoms in the postoperative period. Neuroimaging studies performed at follow-up revealed decrease in ventricular size in all. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy is a useful alternative in the management of acquired fourth ventricular outlet obstruction.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Effects of lesion variables and emotion type on the perception of facial emotion.

The purpose of this study was to consider the effects of valence, motoric direction (i.e., approach/withdrawal), and arousal on the perception of facial emotion in patients with unilateral cortical lesions. We also examined the influence of lesion side, site, and size on emotional perception. Subjects were 30 right-hemisphere-damaged (RHD) and 30 left-hemisphere-damaged (LHD) male patients with focal lesions restricted primarily to the frontal, temporal, or parietal lobe. Patient groups were comparable on demographic and clinical neurological variables. Subjects were tested for their ability to match photographs of four facial emotional expressions: happiness, sadness, fear, and anger. Overall, RHD patients were significantly more impaired than LHD patients in perceiving facial emotion. Lesion side, but not site, was associated with motoric direction and valence dimensions. RHD patients had specific deficits relative to LHD patients in processing negative and withdrawal emotions; there were no group differences for positive/approach emotions. Lesion size was not significantly correlated with accuracy of emotional perception.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1999

High prevalence of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections amongst the inmates of a district jail in Northern India.

Two hundred and forty male and 9 female jail inmates confined for various crimes in a district jail near Delhi were screened for sexually transmitted and blood-borne diseases including HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B and C viral infections, skin diseases etc. The inmates were aged 15-50 years with a mean of 24.8+/-0.11. Their alleged criminal background, period of stay in the jail, drug addiction, education, birth place, marital status, sexual activity, and clinical complaints were recorded by an anonymous questionnaire. Serum samples were tested for antibodies against HIV (1+2), hepatitis C (HCV), Treponema pallidum and for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Sputum examination was done for acid-fast bacilli. Out of the 240 men, 115 were married and 125 unmarried. One hundred and eighty-four (76.6%) men gave history of penetrative sex. Of the 184, 53 (28.8%) were homosexuals or bisexuals and 131 (71.2%) had sex with women only. Sixty of the 131 (45.8%) were faithful to their partners while 124 gave a history of having multiple sexual partners and 100 of them (80.6%) had unprotected sex. Eighty-three of these 100 also had had sex with commercial sex workers (CSWs). One hundred and twenty-six were addicted for alcohol, 44 for smack/charas and 8 had a history of intravenous drug abuse. One hundred and seventy-four were not aware of AIDS. On examination 28 of the 240 (11.6%) had active hepatitis with or without a history of jaundice in the last 2 years, 25 (10.4%) active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and 11 (4.6%) had syphilitic ulcers on the penis. Four-fifths of the teenagers confined to a particular barrack had moderate to severe scabies. Three males (1.3%) were found to be Western blot confirmed HIV-1 positive while 28 (11.1%) men and 2 (22.2%) women were positive for HBsAg. Twelve (5.0%) men but no women, were found to be positive for anti-HCV antibodies. Out of the 3 HIV-positive persons, one was an intravenous drug user (IVDU), second was a drug addict and frequent CSW visitor while the third was a homosexual. This pilot study gives an indication that sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections are highly prevalent in jail premises and pose a threat of rapid spread of these infections through IVDU and homosexuality.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1999

Immunochromatographic test for the diagnosis of Falciparum malaria.

The diagnosis of malaria poses great difficulty at times due to non-availability of microscope, trained personnel or laboratory set up. We undertook the immunochromatographic test in 98 suspected cases of malaria for the detection of antigen of P. falciparum in the blood and to assess its sensitivity and positive predictive value. The sensitivity was 87.06% (confidence interval 77.57 to 92.55%) and the positive predictive value was 93.67%. This is a simple, sensitive and convenient test which can be performed in remote areas.

Animals↗