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Biomedical subjects

H Singh

Publications and source records attributed to H Singh.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Combined chlorpromazine and electroconvulsive therapy in mania.

We report the efficacy of combined chlorpromazine and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the treatment of mania. Two groups of 15 manic patients received eight ECT sessions either actual or simulated, in a double-blind, controlled study. All patients also received 600 mg of chlorpromazine daily until the sixth session. Results indicate that the group receiving the combination of chlorpromazine and ECT did significantly better than the other group.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Relationship between diabetic autonomic neuropathy and gastric contents.

Delayed gastric emptying secondary to diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DAN) is a recognized risk factor for aspiration pneumonitis. The purpose of this study is to determine whether bedside autonomic function tests (AFTs) would predict gastric contents. Gastric volume and its pH were measured in 36 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and 15 nondiabetic patients at induction of general anesthesia for elective ambulatory surgery. Manifestations of autonomic dysfunction were assessed preoperatively in all 51 patients with five commonly used cardiovascular AFTs. According to the results of these five tests, 16 patients with DM met the criteria for the diagnosis and are called "DAN positive." The remaining 20 diabetics did not meet the criteria and are called "DAN negative." Fifteen patients without DM did not meet the criteria and are called "nondiabetics." Diabetic patients were significantly older and more obese than nondiabetics and those with DM more than 10 yr were more often DAN positive. Solid, undigested food particles were found more often in the gastric contents of DAN-positive patients compared to nondiabetics. Gastric liquid volume and pH were similar in diabetic patients (DAN positive and DAN negative) and nondiabetic controls. These results demonstrate that diagnosis of DAN by commonly used cardiovascular AFTs does not predict larger gastric liquid volume or lower pH, but does predict the presence of solid food particles.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Effect of oral clonidine and intrathecal fentanyl on tetracaine spinal block.

We studied the effect of oral clonidine and intrathecal (IT) fentanyl on the onset and duration of a hyperbaric tetracaine-induced spinal block. Forty adult males undergoing elective surgery were studied according to a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled protocol involving four treatment regimens: Group I, placebo per os (PO) + tetracaine 12 mg IT; Group II, placebo PO+tetracaine 12 mg IT+fentanyl 10 micrograms IT; Group III, clonidine 200 micrograms PO+tetracaine 12 mg IT; Group IV, clonidine 200 micrograms PO+tetracaine 12 mg IT+fentanyl 10 micrograms IT. Onset time to highest sensory level was 8.5 +/- 3.1, 8.2 +/- 2.3, 6.1 +/- 1.6, and 6.8 +/- 1.4 min in Groups I, II, III, and IV, respectively. The time required for sensory regression to the L1 dermatome level was 153 +/- 34, 151 +/- 51, 183 +/- 63, and 209 +/- 39 min in Groups I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Similarly, the duration of Grade III motor block was 132 +/- 37, 140 +/- 55, 160 +/- 51, and 189 +/- 52 min in Groups I, II, III, and IV, respectively. IT fentanyl 10 micrograms did not change the onset or duration of tetracaine-induced spinal block. Furthermore, there was no significant interaction between clonidine and fentanyl in Group IV. Episodes of bradycardia and hypotension were more frequent in the clonidine-treated patients (40%-50% vs 10%). We conclude that oral clonidine (200 micrograms) shortened the onset time of tetracaine's sensory block and prolonged the duration of sensory and motor block. However, clonidine premedication increased the risk of hypotension and bradycardia.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1994

Some factors associated with substance abuse among secondary school students in Trinidad and Tobago.

This study attempts to investigate factors associated with involvement in substance abuse in Trinidad and Tobago, through a survey of 1603 secondary school students, aged fourteen to eighteen years. Analysis of the data using the Chi-square test indicates a significant association (p < .001) between involvement in substance abuse and the following factors: grades at school, importance of religious involvement, amount of spending money obtained, confidence placed in parents/peers, parental involvement in alcohol consumption and educational expectations. Generally, the study indicates that youth less committed to traditional values, show a greater tendency to be involved in substance abuse. Involvement also appears to be associated with low self esteem and low educational expectations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Factors affecting the sensitivity and reproducibility of passive haemagglutination test for the quantitation of measles-specific antibodies.

Various factors affecting the passive haemagglutination test (PHA) for the quantitation of measles-specific antibodies have been evaluated with the aim to obtain maximum sensitivity and reproducibility of the test. The antigen used for sensitization was prepared in Vero cells using Edmonston 245 strain of measles virus. Sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) were found most sensitive for use in PHA test. The optimum dilution of tannic acid was found to be 1:40,000 for tanning of fixed and 1:10,000 for unfixed SRBCs, when the tanning was carried out at 4 degrees C overnight. Fixed and tanned SRBCs sensitized with 32 HA units of measles HA antigen at 56 degrees C for 30 mins were found optimal. SRBCs from different sheep affected the sensitivity of the assay. Stability study of SRBCs showed that storage at -70 degrees C of glutaraldehyde-fixed and sensitized SRBCs gave better results as compared to those stored at -20 degrees C and +4 degrees C. Tanned SRBCs could be stored at -70 degrees C only up to 15 days. Sensitized SRBCs with-stood two cycles of freezing and thawing after removal from -20 degrees C and -70 degrees C. Sensitized SRBCs could be stored for 120 days without any significant loss of titer at -20 degrees C, +4 degrees C or 22 degrees C; when lyophilized with stabilizers, there was a slight decline in the titer after exposure at 37 degrees C for 30 days. The lyophilized sensitized SRBCs after reconstitution were found to be stable at +4 degrees C for 3 days without any loss in the titer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Development of a conjoint phage typing & biotyping schema for Salmonella enterica serovar Senftenberg (S. senftenberg) & the correlation of biotypes with phage types.

A total of 287 strains of S. senftenberg received from various parts of India during 1969 to 1992 were phage typed using six lysogenic phages. The typability was 90.3 per cent and 14 different phage types could be defined excluding a small group of untypable strains. A biotyping scheme was developed utilising six characters and 13 biotypes could be defined. Stern's glycerol medium proved to be the best discriminatory medium. Diversity indeces of phage typing and biotyping schemes were 0.868 and 0.503 respectively. Better discrimination was obtained when phage types were subdivided into different biotypes with a diversity index of 0.931. The schemes were found stable, reproducible and epidemiologically useful.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed1994

Evaluation of potency of inactivated cholera vaccine by mouse protection assay & antibody induction method.

Twenty one batches of whole cell inactivated cholera vaccine manufactured at Central Research Institute, Kasauli were evaluated for potency by mouse protection assay (MPA) and antibody induction method. In the antibody induction method the sera of immunized mice were screened for the presence of antibodies against Vibrio cholerae by microagglutination (MA) test and IgG ELISA. The number of organisms estimated by MPA were correlated with agglutinating and neutralizing antibodies against individual serotypes by MA and ELISA respectively. Correlation coefficient(r) of 0.692 and 0.815 were observed for the titres evaluated by MA and ELISA when compared with standard MPA method for the serotype Ogawa. Similarly r values of 0.925 and 0.849 were observed for titres evaluated by MA and ELISA when compared with standard MPA method for the serotype Inaba. Antibody induction method can be as an alternative method for determining the potency of inactivated cholera vaccine.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Assessment of upper airway obstruction by pulmonary function testing.

Twenty-five cases of upper airway obstruction (UAO) of different diseases and ten normal healthy controls were studied by deriving parameters from raw data on Gould System-21 Pulmonary Work station. All the obstructive lesions were confirmed under direct visualisation by fibreoptic bronchoscopy or indirect laryngoscopy. It was observed that FEF 50%/FIF 50% ratio above 1 was the best diagnostic indicator for fixed and variable extrathoracic UAO (p < 0.02). FEV1/PEFR was altered significantly (p < 0.001) and value above 10 ml/Litre/min was the second best parameter to recognise UAO. FEV1 0.5 < or = 1.5 (p < 0.001) and FIF 50% < 100 Lit/min were also suggestive of UAO. Flow volume loop remained the most sensitive method to detect UAO but only 15 patients could construct it. These altered parameters returned to normal after the surgical removal of obstruction which was possible in three cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Transferable beta lactam resistance against cephalosporins in Salmonella typhimurium strains in India.

From 14 strains of S. typhimurium which were resistant to three cephalosporins (cephalexin, cefadroxil and sodium cefotaxime) the resistance plasmids were transferred to two different strains (Escherichia coli K12F-Lac-Rifr and S. typhimurium LT2). The plasmids were autotransferable and the donors as well as transconjugants showed high levels of MIC (80-320 micrograms/ml or more) against these antimicrobial agents. The resistance was demonstrated to be mediated by a 15 kilobase plasmid.

Cefadroxil↗
PubMed1993

Formic acid is a product of the alpha-oxidation of fatty acids by human skin fibroblasts: deficiency of formic acid production in peroxisome-deficient fibroblasts.

Human skin fibroblasts in culture can oxidize beta-methyl fatty acids, such as phytanic acid and 3-methylhexadecanoic acid, to CO2 and water-soluble products. The latter are released largely into the culture medium. The major water-soluble product formed from [1-14C]phytanic and [1-14C]3-methylhexadecanoic acids is [14C]formic acid. As phytanic acid and 3-methylhexadecanoic acids contain beta-methyl groups and theoretically cannot be degraded by beta-oxidation, we postulate that formic acid is formed from fatty acids by alpha-oxidation. The marked reduction in formic acid production from beta-methyl fatty acids in peroxisome-deficient skin fibroblasts suggests that peroxisomes are involved in the generation of C1 units.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1993

Skn-1a and Skn-1i: two functionally distinct Oct-2-related factors expressed in epidermis.

Two forms of a member of the POU domain family of transcriptional regulators, highly related to Oct-2, are selectively expressed in terminally differentiating epidermis and hair follicles. One form, referred to as Skn-1i, contains an amino-terminal domain that inhibits DNA binding and can inhibit transactivation by Oct-1. A second form, Skn-1a, contains an alternative amino terminus and serves to activate cytokeratin 10 (K10) gene expression. The pattern of expression of the Skn-1a/i gene products and the effect of the alternative products on the expression of other genes suggest that these factors serve regulatory functions with respect to epidermal development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Altered platelet protein kinase C activity in bipolar affective disorder, manic episode.

Protein kinase C (PKC) activity and PKC translocation in response to serotonin were investigated in platelets obtained from bipolar affective disorder subjects before and during lithium treatment. Ratios of platelet membrane-bound to cytosolic PKC activities were elevated in the manic subjects. In addition, serotonin-elicited platelet PKC translocation was found to be enhanced in those subjects. Lithium treatment for up to 2 weeks resulted in a reduction in cytosolic and membrane-associated PKC activities and in an attenuated PKC translocation in response to serotonin. These preliminary results suggest that alteration in platelet PKC is associated with the manic phase of bipolar illness. The results also suggest that lithium treatment reduces the sensitivity of platelets to PKC translocation induced by activation of serotonin-2 receptors.

Adult↗