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Biomedical subjects

A Sharma

Publications and source records attributed to A Sharma.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Keratonconjunctivitis sicca is not uncommon in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), characterised by aqueous tear deficiency, is the most common ocular complication in adult rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), however, it remains under-reported. For this prospective study, 50 children with JRA were examined clinically and underwent tests for KCS (Schirmer's I and rose bengal tests, fluorescein staining, and tear film breakup time). Six children (12%) with two or more abnormal tests were diagnosed as having definite KCS, while one child with only one abnormal test was labelled with probable KCS. Five of the six (83.3%) with definite KCS were males, and three (50%) had a pauciarticular form of the disease. Two children (33.3%) with definite KCS had no ocular symptoms, five were receiving only nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and one was additionally on methotrexate. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca appears to be a common ocular complication and all children with JRA should be screened for it with a comprehensive battery of tests.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Agenesis of the skull bones.

Agenesis of the cranial bones, a rare condition usually incompatible with life, was seen in a neonate. Embryogenesis and management of the condition are discussed. The defect heals with conservative treatment.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2001

Reservoir herniation as a complication of three-piece penile prosthesis insertion.

OBJECTIVES: To obtain data concerning the incidence and management of reservoir herniation in inflatable penile prosthesis surgery in a clinical investigation. Reservoir herniation after scrotal placement of inflatable penile prosthesis is an unusual complication, and a review of the published medical reports reveals only anecdotal reports and no definitive articles. METHODS: A multi-item self-addressed questionnaire was mailed to the members of the Society for the Study of Impotence questioning the occurrence of reservoir migration from the prevesical space to the inguinal canal or scrotum. In addition, the database of one of us was reviewed to determine the incidence of reservoir migration in a large series of 1206 three-piece penile prostheses. RESULTS: The response rate was 38%. A minority of respondents (28%) were familiar with the problem. Of those who had experienced this complication, the occurrence was very rare and usually appeared in the immediate postoperative period, often in association with vigorous coughing spells or vomiting. The responders also indicated that imperfect surgical technique might have been implicated in some cases. Management usually consisted of reservoir replacement or repositioning through an inguinal incision with repair of the defect. Alternatively, several surgeons used the existing scrotal incision if the patient presented in the immediate postoperative period. The incidence of reservoir herniation was 0.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Reservoir herniation is a rare complication of inflatable penile prosthesis surgery that occurs almost exclusively in penoscrotally placed prostheses. Familiarity with various approaches to the management of this complication is clinically useful to urologists performing penile prosthesis surgery.

Foreign-Body Migration↗
PubMed2001

Seasonality and affective disorders: a report from North India.

Case records of the patients with major affective disorders (ICD-10 criteria), seen over a 5 year period in a busy clinic in North India were examined for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) as per DSM-III-R criteria. In addition, seasonality of episodes of all affective disorders was also studied. Around 5.67% of the cases (n=44) retrospectively met the DSM-III-R criteria of SAD and predominant pattern was that of summer depression (n=18). There was also a consistent pattern of seasonal mania either in conjunction with seasonal depression (n=18) or in form of seasonal recurrent mania (n=11). None of the cases of depression showed any atypical vegetative features. In cases not meeting criteria for SAD (n=731), there was a trend for peaks for depressive episodes in winter followed by a smaller peak in summer months while manic episodes had peaks towards rainy and winter months. As compared to seasonal patterns of affective disorders in temperate zones, there was a general trend for opposite patterns of seasonality in SAD as well as in non-SAD. The findings are discussed in context of the climatic conditions of North India.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Comparative biological activity study on Passiflora incarnata and P. edulis.

The correct identity of Passiflora incarnata and P. edulis was recently established using various parameters. To strengthen these findings, the anxiolytic activity of these two controversial plants has been comparatively investigated. The methanol extract of P. incarnata exhibited significant anxiolytic activity at an oral dose of 125 mg/kg, whereas P. edulis was devoid of any significant activity.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Anxiolytic activity of aerial and underground parts of Passiflora incarnata.

The petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol, and water extracts of Passiflora incarnata whole plant and sorted out plant parts have been evaluated for their anxiolytic activity using the elevated plus-maze model in mice. The methanol extracts of leaves, stems, flowers, and whole plant exhibited anxiolytic effects at 100, 125, 200 and 300 mg/kg, respectively. The roots were practically devoid of anxiolytic effects. These results show that roots and flowers of P. incarnata act as natural adulterants by causing a significant increase in the anxiolytic dose. Therefore, separation of these parts is recommended prior to any pharmacological, phytochemical and standardization studies on P. incarnata.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Anti-anxiety studies on extracts of Passiflora incarnata Linneaus.

Passiflora incarnata Linn. has been used to cure anxiety and insomnia since time immemorial. Despite the worldwide use of P. incarnata, the pharmacological work on this plant had been inadequate, inconclusive and wage as the earlier reports were unable to infer the mode of action of the plant as well as the phytoconstituents responsible for the much acclaimed anxiolytic and sedative effects of P. incarnata. An attempt has been made to isolate and identify the bioactive phytomoiety of P. incarnata by resorting to bioactivity directed fractionation and chromatographic procedures. A fraction derived from the methanol extract of P. incarnata has been observed to exhibit significant anxiolytic activity at a dose of 10 mg/kg in mice using elevated plus-maze model of anxiety. This fraction comprises mainly two components which are visible as blue and turquoise colored fluorescent spots at 366 nm of the UV light. The possibility of a phytoconstituent having benzoflavone nucleus as the basic moiety being responsible for the bioactivity of P. incarnata is highly anticipated.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2001

Hydrolysis of rice hull by crosslinked Aspergillus niger cellulase.

A. niger cellulase was crosslinked by glutaraldehyde to obtain a heat-stable enzyme preparation for rice hull cellulose hydrolysis. Under optimized crosslinking conditions of 0.12 M glutaraldehyde, pH 7.0, temperature 40 degrees C and at 45 min of crosslinking, a preparation having 15% more activity than free enzyme was obtained which also had considerable improvement in heat stability at 65 degrees C and 70 degrees C. Whereas the free enzyme lost 80% of its activity in 4 h at 65 degrees C, the crosslinked preparation lost only 30% activity. The crosslinked preparation hydrolyzed cellulosic biomass more effectively giving 2.2 mg/ml glucose and 52% corresponding saccharification in 4 h at 65 degrees C as compared to 14% saccharification by free enzyme under similar conditions.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2001

Protein kinase C activation and cardioprotective effect of preconditioning with oxidative stress in isolated rat heart.

The present study is designed to investigate the effect of myocardial preconditioning with oxidative stress induced by pyrogallol or H2O2, on ischaemia-reperfusion induced myocardial injury. Isolated perfused rat heart was subjected to global ischaemia for 30 min followed by reperfusion for 120 min. Coronary effluent was analysed for LDH and CK release to assess the degree of cardiac injury. Myocardial infarct size was estimated macroscopically using TTC staining. Four episodes of preconditioning induced by pyrogallol or hydrogen peroxide (H2O) or ischaemia markedly reduced LDH and CK release in coronary effluent and decreased myocardial infarct size. Administration of polymyxin B, a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, during pyrogallol, H2O2 or ischaemic preconditioning markedly attenuated the cardioprotective effect of preconditioning produced with oxidative stress or ischaemia. These results suggest that preconditioning with oxidative stress may provide cardioprotection similar to ischaemic preconditioning, against ischaemia-reperfusion injury and this cardioprotective effect may be mediated through activation of PKC.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Concurrent use of reteplase and lepirudin in the treatment of acute anterior wall myocardial infarction.

A 61-year-old male with a history of severe heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) type II after aorto-femoral bypass surgery presented to the emergency department within 8 hours of development of substernal chest pain radiating to the left arm. Electrocardiogram (ECG) on arrival and at 3 hours showed no acute changes; cardiac enzymes revealed minimal MB elevation. Echocardiogram showed normal left ventricular systolic function with mild mitral and tricuspid regurgitation and trace aortic insufficiency. Five hours after arrival, the patient reported a recurrence of severe chest pain. ECG showed marked ST elevations consistent with acute myocardial infarction. Reteplase was administered with concomitant lepirudin. Follow-up ECG showed improvement in ST-segment elevation and eventual resolution to pre-event tracing; cardiac enzymes showed slight elevations. Catheterization revealed 90% midstenosis of the left anterior descending artery, which was successfully treated with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and stent placement. Repeat PTCA was performed 10 days postdischarge due to intraluminal stent occlusion. The patient was doing well at 6 months follow-up.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗
PubMed2001

Phase I dose-finding and pharmacokinetic trial of irinotecan (CPT-11) administered every two weeks.

OBJECTIVES: This trial was performed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), and pharmacokinetic profile of irinotecan (CPT-11) when administered on a once-every-2-week schedule. PATIENTS AND METHODS: CPT-11 was administered to successive cohorts of patients at progressively increasing starting doses ranging from 125 to 350 mg/m2. The MTD and DLTs were determined both for CPT-11 alone and for CPT-11 followed by filgrastim (G-CSF). Plasma samples were obtained during the first 24 hours after initial dosing to determine the total concentrations (lactone + carboxylate forms) of CPT-11; of the active metabolite SN-38; and of SN-38 glucuronide (SN-38G). RESULTS: Neutropenic fever was the DLT for CPT-11 at the 300 mg/m2 dose level. When G-CSF was added, dose escalation beyond 350 mg/m2 could not be achieved due to grade 2-3 toxicities that prevented on-time retreatment with CPT-11. Severe, late diarrhea was uncommon on this schedule. Peak plasma concentrations of SN-38 and SN-38G were approximately 2.5% and 4.2% of the corresponding peak plasma concentration for CPT-II, respectively The harmonic mean terminal half-lives for CPT-11, SN-38, and SN-38G were 7.1 hours, 13.4 hours, and 12.7 hours, respectively. No predictive correlation was observed between CPT-11 or SN-38 peak concentration or AUC and first-cycle diarrhea, neutropenia, nausea, or vomiting. Across the range of doses studied, mean CPT-11 clearance was 14.0 +/- 4.0 l/h/m2 and volume of distribution was 146 +/- 45.9 l/m2. CONCLUSIONS: When administered every two weeks, the recommended phase II starting dose of CPT-11 is 250 mg/m2 when given alone and 300 mg/m2 when supported by G-CSF. This every-two-week regimen offers a tolerable and active alternative to weekly or every-three-week single-agent CPT-11 therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Mucor endophthalmitis.

PURPOSE: To report on a case of type 2 diabetes, with eyelid gangrene and endophthalmitis as a presenting manifestation of rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis. RESULTS: CECT head showed proptosis, mucosal thickening in the ethmoid sinus and hypodense lesions in the frontal and occipital lobes. Vitreous tap showed right angle branched aseptate hyphae consistent with mucormycosis. CONCLUSIONS: A diabetic patient presenting with sudden loss of vision, eyelid gangrene and endophthalmitis, involvement by an angio-invasive fungus-like mucormycosis is an important consideration.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2001

Influence of cyclodextrin ring substituents on folding-related aggregation of bovine carbonic anhydrase.

A common obstacle to proper renaturation of an unfolded protein is aggregation, an intermolecular side reaction of immense importance in biotechnology and in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases. Cyclic sugars known as cyclodextrins have been used as protein-folding aids. The effect of cyclodextrin chemistry on aggregation and refolding of carbonic anhydrase was evaluated in this study. Size-exclusion HPLC showed that cyclodextrins inhibit aggregate formation without interfering with the correct renaturation of carbonic anhydrase. PAGE of refolded enzyme provides further evidence of inhibition of folding-related aggregation by natural and chemically modified cyclodextrins. Although the amount of aggregate formed and recovery of active enzyme was dependent on cavity size, the nature of the chemical substituents found on the rims of the sugar molecule seems to play a more important role in cyclodextrin-assisted refolding of carbonic anhydrase. In general, neutral or cationic cyclodextrins with small cavities were found to be better folding aids than anionic cyclodextrins with larger holes. Although the exact prediction of the effect of a cyclodextrin substitution on protein refolding is not possible at present, these results clearly show that modified cyclodextrins can be designed that effectively inhibit protein aggregation.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Cisapride improves gallbladder emptying and bile lipid composition in patients with gallstones.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Biliary cholesterol supersaturation, gallbladder stasis and delayed intestinal transit are the key events in cholesterol gallstone formation. We studied the effect of cisapride, a prokinetic drug, on gallbladder emptying and bile composition in patients with gallstone disease undergoing cholecystectomy. METHODS: Gallbladder emptying, cholesterol saturation index (CSI) and nucleation time were studied in 21 patients with gallstone disease. Eleven patients (cisapride group, age 41.9 +/- 2.9 years) received tablet cisapride 10 mg t.i.d. for 2 weeks, while 10 patients (placebo group, age 42.1 +/- 1.9 years) received placebo for the same duration. Gallbladder emptying was repeated in all patients after a 2-week treatment with cisapride or placebo. Gallbladder bile was obtained at the time of surgery for the measurement of CSI and nucleation time. RESULTS: Residual volume of the gallbladder decreased (mean +/- SE, 18.6 +/- 2.5 mL vs 10.0 +/- 1.1 mL, P = 0.007), and the ejection fraction increased (43.5 +/- 5.3% vs 60.0 +/- 3.2%, P = 0.007) in patients in the cisapride group, while no change was observed in placebo group patients. Nucleation time was higher in the cisapride group than in the placebo group (14.9 +/- 1.3 days vs 8.0 +/- 0.9 days, P = 0.003). Patients in the cisapride group had a significantly lower cholesterol concentration (molar percentage, 5.1 +/- 0.3% vs 6.8 +/- 0.8%, P = 0.049) and CSI (1.0 +/- 0.1 vs 1.36 +/- 0.11, P = 0.034) than patients in the placebo group. CONCLUSION: Cisapride improves gallbladder emptying and bile lithogenicity in patients with gallstone disease.

Adult↗