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Biomedical subjects

Ashok Kumar

Publications and source records attributed to Ashok Kumar.

226 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Chemomodulatory action of Brassica compestris (var sarason) on hepatic carcinogen metabolizing enzymes, antioxidant profiles and lipid peroxidation.

The effect of two different doses (400 and 800 mg/kg body wt/day for 15 days) of a 95% ethanolic extract of the seeds of Brassica compestris (var sarason) was examined on carcinogen metabolizing phase-I and phase-II enzymes,antioxidant enzymes and glutathione content and lipid peroxidation in the liver of Swiss albino mice. Positive control mice were treated with butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). Significant elevation in the levels of cytochrome p450 (p<0,.05), cytochrome b5 (p < 0.05) glutathione s-transferase (p<0.01), DT-diaphorase (p<0.05), superoxide dismutase (p<0.01), catalase (p < 0.001) and reduced glutathione (p<0.001) was noted in the group treated with 800 mg/kg body wt. of Brassica extract in comparison with the negative control group. Brassica compestris acted as a bifunctional inducer since it induced both phase - I and phase - H enzyme systems. Since phase-I and phase-II enzymes are considered to be reliable markers for evaluating the chemoprevention efficacy of particular test materials,these findings are suggestive of potential chemopreventive roles for Brassica seed extract.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Surgical management of corrosive strictures of stomach.

BACKGROUND: Corrosive injuries of the upper aero-digestive tract are a frequent cause of morbidity in India. We report here our institution's experience in managing patients with corrosive strictures of the stomach. METHODS: Records of 28 patients who underwent definitive surgery for corrosive strictures of the stomach in our institution over a 15-year period were reviewed. RESULTS: The main presenting complaints were vomiting (75%), dysphagia (46%) and significant weight loss (100%). Pre-operative evaluation included barium and endoscopic studies. Most patients had antro-pyloric strictures (n=22); in 6 patients, however, near-total or total gastric involvement was observed. Thirteen (46%) patients had associated strictures of the esophagus; of these, 7 responded to esophageal dilation. Strictures of the stomach were managed with resectional procedures like distal gastrectomy (n=16), subtotal gastrectomy (1) or total gastrectomy (3) and esophagogastrectomy (1) in 21 (75%) patients. The remaining 7 patients underwent bypass procedures like gastrojejunostomy (5), stricturoplasty (1), and colonic bypass of esophagus and stomach (1). Three patients had entero-cutaneous fistulae in the postoperative period. One patient died in hospital of septicemia and malnutrition. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with corrosive strictures of the stomach, surgery, tailored according to the extent of gastric involvement and presence of associated esophageal strictures, gives excellent results.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Board certification status and pediatric dentists' practice characteristics.

PURPOSE: Board certification is often used as a surrogate indicator of provider competence and quality of care, although few studies have demonstrated its validity. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between board certification status and a set of quality characteristics of pediatric dental practice. METHODS: A 30-item questionnaire was developed that collected information regarding practice characteristics in the areas of: (1) professional growth/practice management; (2) emergency readiness; (3) treatment guidelines utilization; (4) patient pool selection; (5) safety; and (6) behavior management. The questionnaire was mailed to 250 board-certified and 250 noncertified pediatric dentists paired by year and program of graduation. RESULTS: Overall, respondents-irrespective of pairing by program and year of graduation-tended to answer affirmatively or largely positively to most questions. Maintaining hospital privileges and having routinely CPR-certified staff were significantly related to the board certification status. When year of graduation and residency program attended was considered, however, this significance disappeared. In categories of treatment guidelines utilization, patient pool selection, safety protocols and behavior management, there was no significant difference between board certified and nonboard certified pediatric dentists (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Generally, pediatric dentists independent of certification status, practice at a high level of quality, as measured in this study.

Certification↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bile leaks following surgery for hepatic hydatid disease.

BACKGROUND: Conservative surgery (cyst evacuation and partial pericystectomy) for hydatid cysts of the liver is known to be safe but is often associated with bile leak and its sequelae. METHODS: Case records of 86 patients undergoing surgery for hydatid cysts of the liver at a tertiary-care center in northern India over a 14-year period were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Sixteen (18%) patients had jaundice and 36 (42%) had a cyst-biliary communication detected at surgery. Biliary complications developed in 14 (16%) patients. Bile leaks and bilio-cutaneous fistulae were observed in 11 (13%) patients; the fistula output was low (< 300 mL/day) in 8 of these. Three patients had localized intra-abdominal bile collections; all 3 underwent percutaneous drainage of biloma (subsequent laparotomy and lavage was required in one patient due to failure of percutaneous drainage), producing controlled low-output bilio-cutaneous fistulae in all. All low-output fistulae closed spontaneously after a mean duration of 4 weeks. Patients with high-output fistulae underwent endoscopic intervention (stenting/naso-biliary drainage), resulting in the conversion of these fistulae to low-output category and eventual closure after a mean duration of 7.5 weeks. CONCLUSION: Postoperative bile leaks lead to significant morbidity after surgical management of hydatid cysts of liver. A majority of them resolve spontaneously. Biliary drainage (endoscopic or surgical) hastens the closure of these bilio-cutaneous fistulae.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: differentiation from associated gall bladder carcinoma.

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is a destructive form of chronic cholecystitis. In some patients it coexists with gall bladder carcinoma (GBC) and is often difficult to differentiate between the two. Present study was performed with an aim to identify differentiating features of XGC and those of XGC with associated Gall bladder carcinoma (XGC ass. GBC). A retrospective analysis of prospectively maintained data of 4800 cholecystectomies performed from January 1988 to December 2003 was carried out. On histopathology 453 cholecystectomy specimens revealed XGC. These patients were divided into two groups, those with associated GBC (n=26) and those without GBC (n=427). Clinical, radiological and operative findings were compared in these two groups. P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The incidence of associated GBC in present series was 6%. XGC patients with associated GBC, at presentation were older than those with XGC alone and there was male preponderance. XGC patients with associated GBC were more likely to present with anorexia, weight loss, palpable lump and jaundice. Gall stones were present in majority of patients in both the groups. GB wall thickening, GB mass, enlarged abdominal lymph nodes may be found on imaging in both the groups but more so in patients with associated GBC. Both preoperative FNAC and peroperative FNAC/imprint cytology failed to reveal the associated GBC with XGC in some patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dengue fever with acute liver failure.

A virus belonging to the Flaviviridae group causes dengue haemorrhagic fever. Dengue presenting as acute liver failure is rare. Dengue is endemic in India. The last epidemic of dengue occurred in Delhi in 2003. During this epidemic, 2185 confirmed cases of dengue were reported. Dengue virus serotypes 2 and 3 were responsible for this epidemic. A 19-yr-old male presented to our hospital with the complaints of fever for 12 days, during this epidemic. He was diagnosed as having dengue shock syndrome, stage IV with acute liver failure. He had primary dengue infection. He made complete recovery with supportive management.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chemopreventive potential of Tribulus terrestris against 7,12- dimethylbenz (a) anthracene induced skin papillomagenesis in mice.

In the present investigation, the chemopreventive potential of aqueous extracts of the root and fruit of Tribulus terrestris (an Ayurvedic medicinal plant) on 7, 12 - dimethylbenz (a) anthracene (DMBA) induced papillomagenesis in male Swiss albino mice was studied. A significant reduction in tumor incidence, tumor burden and cumulative number of papillomas was observed, along with a significant increase in average latent period in mice treated orally with Tribulus terrestris suspension continuously at pre, peri and post-initiation stages of papillomagenesis as compared to the control group treated with DMBA and croton oil alone. Treatment with Tribulus terrestris suspension by oral gavage for 7 days resulted in a significant increase in the reduced glutathione content in the liver (P< 0.001 for both root and fruit extracts). Conversely, lipid peroxidation levels were significantly decreased (P< 0.001).

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗